Normandale Community College

9700 France Ave S, Bloomington, MN

About
Normandale Community College, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, was founded in 1968 in order to provide educational opportunities for residents of its service regions. The school was originally known as Normandale State Junior College and had an initial enrollment of 1,358 students. Today the school enrolls over 10,000 students annually and maintains a large campus equipped with modern equipment and facilities in order to best meet the needs of modern and future students. The school is one of the institutions that comprise the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. The school maintains ties to local businesses and organizations as part of its goal to assist in cultural and economic development.

Academics
Normandale Community College is a comprehensive community college offers a large variety of programs aimed at academic transfer or career training. The school's goal is to provide an atmosphere of growth and assistance for students.

Academic transfer is accomplished through the completion of the  first two years of a four year education, followed by the applying to college and universities in order to continue that education and complete the final two years, earning a bachelor's degree. Students may choose to seek graduate level study or enter the workforce with an undergraduate degree upon completion. Individuals seeking transfer will find that admissions requirements are eased for those applying to public Minnesota institutions through pre-existing agreements between the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System schools. Transfer to private or out of state schools will be more difficult due to varying admissions requirements, and interested students should meet with a counselor to develop the appropriate curriculum.

Career training programs provide interested students with an education in a specific area of study and expertise, assisting in the development of the skills and abilities necessary to enter the workforce as a qualified professional. A program will be divided between traditional classroom courses and practical courses designed to simulate real world environments that help perfect skills and methods specific to one's chosen field. Programs take between one and two years to complete and result in a certificate or degree that demonstrates competency in the area of study, which is useful for seeking employment at the entry level.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Computer Science
• History
• Nursing
• Sociology

The school also offers programs aimed at assisting high school students develop academic skills such as research, writing, analyses and others prior to entry to a college or university. These programs are aimed at removing the gap often encountered by high school graduates when first entering a post secondary institution.

Admissions and Financial Aid
Normandale Community College is an open enrollment institution that allows any individuals interested in attending to enroll by submitting an application and paying all fees. Students must be eighteen years of age or older, or have a high school diploma or equivalent. Students must also supply transcripts and test scores if available and may be required to take a placements exam prior to registration. Participation in new student orientation is recommended to familiarize oneself with the campus and rules, as well as meet with a counselor to discuss goals, program enrollment and curriculum.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which will be used by the school to determine the extent of a student's need and aid program eligibility when developing the financial aid packet. Financial aid must be reapplied for prior to the start of each academic year. Students may also be chosen at random to supply additional tax and financial information to confirm the accuracy of their FAFSA as part of recent changes in federal regulation regarding the disbursement of aid funds.