Northwest Arkansas Community College Reports Record Fall Enrollment
Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) in Bentonville has achieved a significant milestone with its largest enrollment ever for the fall semester. The college reported an unofficial preliminary count of 9,017 students, marking a 7% increase over last year. This surge in enrollment comes despite the college still recovering from a ransomware attack that occurred six weeks ago.
The growth in enrollment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the college’s faculty and staff, who have overcome real challenges to achieve this milestone. The college president, Dennis Rittle, expressed appreciation for the community’s continued support and for the students who have chosen NWACC, noting the excitement around the growth of workforce and accelerated skills training programs.
In addition to traditional associate degrees and college credits, NWACC offers for-credit workforce programs and terminal degrees such as construction technology and registered nursing. Accelerated skills training and non-college-credit courses designed for workforce development are also available, reflecting the college’s commitment to shaping the future of the region’s economy. The total enrollment count, including both academic-credit and industry-credit students, reaches 10,272.
The cyberattack, which prompted the college to shut down its computer network, surprisingly did not hinder the student experience. The college prioritized ensuring that the student experience remained unaffected, communicating and guiding students through the process. This is also reflected in the growth of the first-time entering freshman class, which saw an impressive 41% increase to about 618 students.
The college’s partnership with local high schools has been highly beneficial, as seen in the strong relationship with Springdale Superintendent Jared Cleveland. The program allowing students to take college-credit courses from NWACC at a discounted rate has provided students with the confidence to pursue higher education successfully.
- Record enrollment of 9,017 students for the fall semester
- 7% increase over last fall
- Total enrollment count reaches 10,272 with all students included
- 41% increase in first-time entering freshmen
