NWSCC’s growth is an exciting change
Northwest Shoals Community College has become one of the best educational stories in north Alabama. The community college with campuses in Muscle Shoals and Phil Campbell is experiencing record-breaking growth, and NWSCC officials are confident the trend will continue.
Enrollment for the fall semester has climbed to 5,143 students, which is the largest number of students enrolled in a single semester in the school’s 62-year history.
Even better is the 10% enrollment boost from last fall. A year ago, 4,665 students were enrolled. That means an additional 478 students are attending classes this semester compared to last year.
“It truly is amazing to see the increasing number of students we have been able to serve,” said President Dr. Jeff Goodwin. And he’s right.
There are several reasons, of course, but Goodwin’s presence since January 2022 has been a key component. He picked up the mantle passed down from interim President Chris Cox, who spearheaded an ambitious 2-year, $30 million plan to improve both campuses and bring athletics back to NWSCC.
That plan, which is now in its third year, has rejuvenated both campuses and spawned a steady enrollment growth. The numbers are astonishing:
• NWSCC’s fall enrollment in 2021 was 3,374.
• Fall enrollment in 2022 jumped 20% to 4,071.
• In the fall of 2023, enrollment was 4,251, up 4%.
• Last fall (2024), enrollment increased to 4,758, up 10.6%. That was the highest enrollment in three decades, since 1993.
Not only is this fall’s enrollment of 5,143 a single semester record for NWSCC, but it also represents an incredible 1,769 improvement in enrollment for the last 4 years – a 52% gain.
Another key factor was bringing athletics back to NWSCC in 2021. The programs have grown from two to eight, including men’s and women’s golf, women’s flag football and volleyball, baseball and softball, and men’s and women’s cross country. Next fall the college plans on adding basketball to the mix.
Dr. Amber McCown, assistant dean of Students, said the college’s distance education programs and on-campus programs have given students more options, like the school’s hybrid nursing program, Salon and Spa Management program, and Health Sciences program.
The nursing program, which earns students an associate’s degree in nursing, began in the fall of 2023 with nine students. This semester, 43 are part of the program, reflecting a 366% increase in two years. The Salon and Spa Management program is up 33% from the fall 2024 semester. And the Health Sciences program has seen a 32% increase in enrollment.
“What excites me is that this growth is balanced across so many different areas of the college,” McCown said. “Students are engaging with us like never before — whether that’s through athletics, in the classroom or online. That growth reflects real momentum for the future.”
Another key component has been the emphasis on expanding the college’s dual enrollment program, which is up 5%.
“I think parents are realizing this is a great deal for them financially, and their children are getting ahead with college credit,” Goodwin said.
Trent Randolph, director of Public Relations and Marketing, said distance education is customizable for certain students. Often, it includes fully online classes or classes gathering online but taking tests on campus. Distance education students have access to free online tutoring, too.
All these factors have enabled NWSCC to overcome a very tough 10-year stretch that saw enrollment fall from 4,537 in 2009 to 3,596 in 2019. It’s a success story that deserves some recognition from the public.
