NWACC sees record fall enrollment, up 7% from 2023

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) in Bentonville reported enrollment as of Tuesday (Sept. 10) rose by 7% to a record of 9,017 students from 8,409 last year, according to the college. Enrollment also increased by 7% last year and 10% in 2022.

The 11th-day enrollment number is preliminary and reflects the largest enrollment for the two-year college.

“We are seeing robust enrollment across our programs,” said NWACC President Dennis Rittle. “It is a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff, who overcame some real challenges to achieve this milestone. We appreciate the community for their continued support and our students who voted with their feet to choose NWACC. It is especially exciting to see our investment in workforce and accelerated skills training programs paying off, and NWACC is now known not only for high-quality college education but also for high-quality upskilling and job training.”

The 11th-day enrollment number comprises college credit students. The total enrollment for credit students, accelerated skills training students and adult education students is 10,272.

“At NWACC, our commitment to workforce development is stronger than ever,” said Starlinda Sanders, associate vice president for workforce. “By launching innovative training programs and expanding our offerings, we are not just preparing individuals for today’s job market, we are shaping the future of our region’s economy.”

NWACC offers traditional college degrees that can transfer, for-credit workforce programs and terminal degrees, such as construction technology and registered nursing.

It also provides accelerated skills training, non-college credit courses designed for workforce development, upskilling and job training. This includes training for commercial driver’s license (CDL) truck driving; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); plumbing; and electrical apprenticeships.