Northampton County Area Community College (NCACC, Northampton Community College) Introduction and History

Introduction

Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) serves more than 35,000 students each year through credit programs, workforce training, adult literacy classes, and youth programs. In addition to its main campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, NCC operates a branch campus in Tannersville and more than 50 satellite sites throughout the surrounding four counties. NCC offers associate degrees in arts, science, and applied science. It also offers a number of transfer programs and certifications in more than 100 tracks within its available industries. The college specializes in offering career programs and services to help students find meaningful jobs after graduation.

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Information Summary

Ranks 220th in Pennsylvania and 3568th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	40.6
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$19,774
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	35 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	56% / 45%
Enrollment Total (all students)	9,769

History

NCC opened in 1967 with a class of 846 students and 21 staff members. Its first students could choose from eight career tracks, five transfer opportunities, and one personal development program. The college gained accreditation in 1970 and began awarding degrees.

The campus continued to expand, adding buildings for engineering, business technologies, radiology, and funeral services. Student residences were added in the 1980s and in the 1990s, NCC built a 35,000 square foot Technology Hall with technical laboratories, facilities for the Center for Business, and the National Training Center for Microelectronics. More recently, a Student Enrollment Center was added to the campus and renovation work has continued.

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Academics

NCC offers a wide variety of practical and career-oriented degrees and training programs. In addition to a number of associate degrees in arts, science, and applied science, NCC also awards certificates and specialized diplomas.

Students can pursue any one of NCC’s dozens of major programs. Degree programs at NCC have three parts: a core curriculum, major classes, and electives. The core curriculum is required for every student at the college. It includes a multidisciplinary set of classes in the arts, sciences, and social sciences designed to give students a strong academic foundation in many difference knowledge groups and skill sets.

Major programs at NCC offer very specialized study of different topics that relate to useful career paths. Students can earn degrees in computer maintenance and service technology, dental hygiene, electrical technology, history, liberal arts, small business management, and dozens more. Minors are similar topics that students can study in more concise detail.

Honors Program

The NCC Honors Program is developed specially for students who seek a challenging and advanced curriculum and want to transfer to a four-year university after their time at NCC. To be admitted into the Honors Program, a freshman must meet the placement minimums for English I and have a high school GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Alternatively, students who were in the top 20% of their high school class are also eligible. Students who don’t meet these requirements may petition for acceptance by providing a letter of recommendation. Honors Program students must take at least 12 credits of honors classes and maintain a minimum college GPA of 3.5. At the end of the program, students can transfer to Dickinson College with potential scholarship of $15,000 along with other grants and aid.

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Admissions

NCC is an open admissions college, which means that any student with a high school diploma or a GED certificate who follows the College’s application procedures will be accepted and enrolled for the semester of their choice.

To apply, prospective students should fill out NCC’s standard application form, which can be completed online or on paper, and submit it along with an application fee. Special admissions students, or students pursuing particular degree programs, may need to submit additional materials. For example, the Allied Health Professions program requires incoming students to have taken chemistry and biology with a certain grade point average, and the theatre program requires an audition.

Once everything has been submitted, students will need to take placement tests for English and math and meet with an academic advisor to review the placement test scores and develop a curriculum. Students then register for classes, pay their tuition, and buy their books at the NCC campus bookstore.

Financial Aid

Students seeking financial aid should begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available online at fafsa.gov. This application determines a student’s eligibility for different types of government funding, including grants, loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA is frequently required for many third-party loan and scholarship applications. In addition to this application, students should also fill out the NCC Financial Aid Information Form, which is available through the Financial Aid Application Process page on the NCC website.

Other sources of funding may include merit-based scholarships and grants from third-party sponsors or from NCC itself. NCC offers many scholarships that have been funded by different sponsors. In most cases, students are automatically considered for these scholarships once they’ve completed NCC’s standard financial aid application process. There is one online form for access to most of these opportunities. Science, math, and technology majors should also consider the National Science Foundation’s SMaRT Scholars Scholarship Opportunity, which offers a full scholarship to a limited number of students in these fields. More information about these and other award opportunities can be found on NCC’s Financial Aid page.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4409th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Pennsylvania.

Students

NCC is unique among community colleges in that it offers on-campus housing. Students can apply for housing in traditional-style residence halls and apartment complexes that are located right on the main campus. Residences include a game room, kitchen, study room, laundry facilities, and special access to on-campus dining. Students who live on campus can easily walk to classes, attend lectures, eat at dining halls, or meet up with friends. It’s a great way to get involved without even leaving the dormitory.

However, all students can participate in the NCC campus life by joining one of the many clubs, which include groups for social activities, sports, special interests, and professional organizations. Specific topics can range from outdoor appreciation and anime to the political science club and the Muslim Student Association. Some groups sponsor events or activities away from the campus, including trips to areas around the country for seminars and conventions. There are also a number of college activities and events throughout the year that are open to the full student body.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Bibliography

Northampton Community College. Application for Admission. Print.

Northampton Community College Home. Web. 28 Sept. 2011.

Northampton County Area Community College