National Park Community College

About
National Park Community College, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, was founded in was established 2003 and is the fourth largest community college in the state. The school was formed as a merger between the schools Garland County Community College (1973) and Quapaw Technical Institute (1969). The school is named after the nearby Hot Springs National Park, and is situated in area known for its picturesque landscape and relatively small community. Since the merger, the school has received a large donation from Frederick M. Dierks allowing for the construction of new facilities and the renovation of older ones. The school currently enrolls nearly 7000 students in credit programs, and non-credit courses annually.

Academics
National Park Community College offers a large variety of programs to ensure that students will be able to choose one that best suits their academic or professional goals. Students may choose a career program that provides the training and knowledge of a particular field, allowing the students to enter the workforce as a professional upon completion of the program. Such programs take between one and two years to complete and result in a certificate or associate degree. Successful graduates of these programs are eligible for positions at the entry level, though some careers may require local or state certification or licensure prior to employment.

Academic transfer programs provide students the opportunity to complete the first two years of a four year education at low monetary cost, then transfer to a college or university to complete their bachelor's degree. Students will find ease of transfer with partner universities through the University in the Park programs. Students may wish to apply to non affiliated colleges and universities and ss four year institutions have varying requirements for transfer admission, it is recommended that students meet with a counselor to outline a curriculum that best meet the requirements of the student's desired school or schools.

Programs offered include:

• Business
• Accounting
• Paralegal
• Phlebotomy
• Early Childhood Education

Admissions and Financial Aid
As an open enrollment institution, National Park Community College will admit any student who meets the minimal requirements for enrollment, specifically having a high school diploma or equivalent or be over 23 years of age. Students wishing to enroll must submit a completed admissions application and provide all secondary information if possible, including transcripts and standardized test scores. Students are encouraged to participate in orientation. Registration for courses takes place shortly before the start of each semester.

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 to determine financial costs of tuition, books and related expenses, aid program eligibility, and monetary awards. Students may be asked to provide additional financial documentation to ensure that the information provided by the FAFSA is accurate. Financial aid must be reapplied for prior to the start of each academic year, prior to the deadlines posted by the school.

Estimated Costs & Financial Aid

The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $8,000. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition & Fees Information

• Tuition estimates per year:
  • State Residents: $2,600-$3,200
  • Out-of-State: $4,000-$4,824
• Charges for part-time students are:
  • State Residents: $88-$110 per credit unit
  • Nonresidents: $130-$160 per credit unit
• Some programs may have a frozen tuition rate, which means the tuition will stay the same for up to five years.

Financial Aid Details

The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.

	Percent of Students	Average Amount
Any Financial Aid	78%	-
Receiving Grants & Scholarships	76%	$4,765
Receiving Student Loans	30%	$5,870

Admissions, Academics, & Student Services

Student Services

To help support students, National Park Community College may provide services to students including:

• Distance learning
• Night and weekend classes available
• Remedial instructional courses
• Counseling assistance
• Student employment
• Employment search assistance

Graduation & Transfer Rates

Community colleges often offer both career training programs and options for students to transfer-out to four year institutions, which is why the table below is so important, it compares this school against community colleges in Arkansas.

	National Park College	Garland County	Arkansas
Graduation Rate	19.7%	-	22.2%
Transfer-out Rate	13.2%	-	14.1%

Specialized Programs & Accreditations

• Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
  • Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1984)
  • Find all the other nursing programs in Arkansas
• Radiology Technician Program
  • Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1985)

Other Community Colleges Nearby

The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to National Park Community College.

• College of the Ouachitas in Malvern, AR (21 miles away)
• University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton in Morrilton, AR (48 miles away)
• Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, AR (63 miles away)
• Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, AR (63 miles away)
• University of Arkansas Community College - Hope in Hope, AR (66 miles away)