Northwest-Shoals Community College vs HCC-Leeward
Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and Hawaii Community College in Hilo, Hawaii, are two distinct institutions offering diverse educational opportunities. Northwest-Shoals boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming all qualified applicants, while Hawaii Community College is slightly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 98%. Both colleges offer a wide range of programs, with Northwest-Shoals specializing in healthcare, business, and industrial technologies, and Hawaii Community College excelling in culinary arts, agriculture, and hospitality. While Northwest-Shoals has a predominantly White student body, Hawaii Community College reflects the diverse ethnicities of the Hawaiian Islands. With graduation rates of 27% and 23% respectively, both colleges are committed to providing students with the support they need to succeed. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic goals and preferences.
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![]() Hawaii Community College |
![]() Northwest-Shoals Community College |
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Overview |
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Location | Hilo, Hawaii | Muscle Shoals, Alabama |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | City: Small |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 59.0% | 65.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | Open Admission |
Application fees | $25 | |
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | ||
Total number of admissions given out | ||
Admitted students who chose to enroll | ||
Yield rate | ||
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | |
High school GPA | N/A | N/A |
Recommendation letters | N/A | N/A |
High school transcript | N/A | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,094
Out of state:
$27,230
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In state:
$16,301
Out of state:
$19,991
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Average net price | $9,954 | $3,493 |
Tuition |
In state:
$3,144
Out of state:
$8,280
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In state:
$3,690
Out of state:
$7,380
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$3,544
Meal plan:
$5,452
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
76.0%
Average amount $5,122 |
95.0%
Average amount $5,952 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
3.0%
Average amount $4,110 |
24.0%
Average amount $2,779 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $9,032 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,248
Men 38.6% Women 61.4% |
3,371
Men 43.1% Women 56.9% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 1.8% | 1.5% |
International students | 2.0% | 0.6% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 40 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Hawaii California Alaska Arizona Colorado | Alabama Tennessee Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 33.6% | 26.0% |
Dropout rate | 50.2% | 39.1% |
Transferred out | 8.1% | 21.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate's Degrees)
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (Associate's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
Fire Protection (Associate's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
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