Public Relations

Number of AAS grads up 21 percent since 2004

            BENTONVILLE (Monday, Oct. 1, 2007) – The number of Associate of Applied Science graduates has increased at NorthWest Arkansas Community College by 21 percent from 2004 through 2007, according to the NWACC Office for Institutional Research.

            The office released survey highlights of the 2007 Graduate Opinion Survey, taken annually in May.

            Conducted since 1995, this data provides NWACC with information and trends that help shape the direction of the college as a whole. 

            The participants of the survey have met degree requirements for an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of General Studies, Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate of Applied Science, or one of the many certificate programs provided by NWACC.

            A total of 133 potential graduates, or 33 percent of the graduating class, completed the survey.

2007 Survey Highlights:

            Over 95 percent of the 2007 graduates who participated in this survey stated they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their educational experience at NWACC.

            This is consistent with the results collected since 2005.

            Over 78 percent of respondents stated that they attended NWACC to complete an Associate of Applied Science degree.

            There was a 5 percent drop from 2006 to 2007 for students whose primary reason for attending NWACC was to transfer to a 4-year institution.

            From 2004-2007, the number of Associate of Applied Science graduates has increased by 21 percent.

            The number of Associate of Science degree recipients peaked in 2006 (116) and has averaged 93 graduates over a 4-year period since 2004.

            The first recipients of the Associate of Arts in Teaching occurred in 2007 with 4 students receiving their AA in Teaching.

            The survey also showed that the age demographics for NWACC graduates has remained consistent since 2005 with students 26 years of age and older making up 60 percent of the graduates and graduates under the age of 26 making up the other 40 percent.

            The number of graduates who received financial aid to assist them in completing their degrees has increased by 6.5 percent since 2005.

For questions/comments on this content, please contact jhall@nwacc.edu