Northwest College
Northwest College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Northwest College at a Glance
Northwest College is a public community college off Wyoming Highway 295 in Powell, Wyoming, United States.
1946
80 years old
$53M
$53.2 million (2025)
1,443
104
132 acres
Identity
Is Northwest College Worth It?
Northwest College offers moderate value at $7,463/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $36,950, which is 31% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 46% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Northwest College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #13 of 50 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #3 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #4 | Northern Marianas College | 100 | $2,789 | $27,836 |
| #5 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #6 | American Samoa Community College | 89 | $3,386 | $30,087 |
| #13 | Northwest College | 57 | $7,463 | $36,950 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Northwest College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in WY.
Best Programs at Northwest College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Northwest College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $7,463/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in WY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Powell, WY
- Student Body
- 890 students
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $7,463
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $36,950
- Median Student Debt
- $10,000