North Iowa Area Community College

North Iowa Area Community College: Academics, Admissions & Tuition

Learn what degree programs North Iowa Area Community College offers. Read about its academics, admission requirements and financial aid info to make an informed education decision.

About North Iowa Area Community College

North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) was the first public, two-year college in Iowa as well as the United States. The college was founded in 1918 and is located in Mason City. The campus sits on 500 acres in a countryside setting that features the Muse-Norris Conference Center, Student Activity Center and Murphy Manufacturing Technology Center. This school has Community Education Centers in Garner, Charles City, Hampton, Osage and Lake Mills.

Academics

NIACC has close to 40 career programs that take from one to two years to complete. This school offers a variety of courses over the Internet, and students can obtain an Associate of Arts degree completely online. For students who were awarded associate's degrees in 2010-2011, liberal arts, health and business were the most popular programs.

The college has an agreement with the University of Northern Iowa that allows students who complete a specific technical program at NIACC to transfer to the technology management program at the university. NIACC has articulation agreements with many schools, including Iowa State University, Northwest Missouri State University and University of Iowa. Additional associate's programs in computer science, math, political science and many others can also prepare students to transfer to a four-year school.

High school students can enroll in some college courses at NIACC for no charge through the Career Link program.

Admissions

North Iowa Area Community college is an open admissions school. In order for applicants to be considered for admission, they must complete the NIACC Application for Admission, submit college or high school transcripts and submit ACT, SAT or Compass Assessment scores. Specific programs, such as the nursing and physical therapist programs, have additional admission requirements. The application can be completed online or printed and delivered by mail or in-person.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition for in-state residents (includes students from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin) during the 2012-2013 school year was $125.25 per credit hour. Non-residents were charged $187.90 per credit hour in 2012-2013. Student must also pay a materials lab fee, student activities fee and technology fee for each credit hour taken. Students living on-campus in 2012-2013 were charged between $2,676.75 and $3,026.75 per semester for housing (including a meal plan), depending on the type of living situation.

Incoming students are automatically considered for academic scholarships, which can be renewed if a student meets certain criteria throughout his or her studies at NIACC. Students planning on applying for financial aid should do so as early as possible; the Iowa state financial aid deadline is July 1, and the NIACC scholarship priority deadline is March 1.

NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE QUICK FACTS
School Type	Two-year, public*
Degrees Offered	Associate's, certificate programs*
Religious Affiliation	None*
Academic Calendar	Semester*
School Setting	Remote town*
Student Body	3,557 (all undergraduate) in 2011*
Student Housing	Residence halls and apartments accommodate more than 400 students**
ACADEMICS
Schools and Programs	13 academic divisions that offer roughly 40 areas of study**
Student-Faculty Ratio	22 to 1*
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2010-2011: Associate's: Liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies (339) Less-than-one-year certificate: Nursing assistant/aide (258)*
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	42% of students who began their studies in fall 2008 finished in 150% of normal time*
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	Open admissions*
Entering Class Size	784 in 2011*
First-Year Retention Rates	59% of full-time students in 2011*
Application Due Date	Rolling admissions*
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition (2012-2013)	$125.25 per credit hour for in-state students, $187.90 per credit hour for out-of-state students**
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Students Receiving it)	For full-time beginning students in 2010-2011: Federal grants (57%), state/local grants and scholarships (6%), institutional grants/scholarships (34%), federal student loans (54%)*
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	88% of full-time beginning undergraduates in 2010-2011*

Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics, **North Iowa Area Community College.

School Contact Information

Address: 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401
Phone: 641-422-4245
Website: www.niacc.edu