National Park College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It enrolls 1,789 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes20
Value35
Affordability55
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, National Park College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending National Park College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,720 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,720
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
48%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
22%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,600
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,280
Room & Board (on-campus)
$6,750
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,750
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,050
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,331
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,368
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,953
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,349
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,084
Over $110,000
$9,541
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$10,500Medianpercentile
$17,50075%percentile
$29,57290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,750
↓ $3,750
No Pell $4,750
↓ $5,750
Dependent students $5,250
↓ $5,250
Independent students $8,899
↓ $1,601
Female students $7,000
↓ $3,500
Male students $5,099
↓ $5,401
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,250, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at National Park College graduate within six years, and 51% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
51%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered National Park College earn a median of $32,444 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,444
Earning > $25K
53%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$26,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$30,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓
5.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 55% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
National Park College is home to 1,789 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,789
Part-Time
31%
First-Generation
46%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 64.3%1,150
Hispanic 13.7%245
Black 11.5%205
Other 8.2%147
International 1.3%24
Asian 1.0%18
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at National Park College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbHot Springs, Arkansas
Housing
Limited on-campus housing180 beds
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
National Park College offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at National Park College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,480
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,282
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
86 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
7
8%
$56,659
Associate Professors
10
12%
$52,245
Assistant Professors
69
80%
$48,104
Pros & Cons of National Park College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how National Park College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, National Park College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about National Park College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about National Park College.
Is National Park College hard to get into?
National Park College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at National Park College?
National Park College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does National Park College cost?
The average net price after aid at National Park College is $12,720 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is National Park College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,444 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,720 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is National Park College known for?
National Park College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Health/Medical Preparatory. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do National Park College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering National Park College are $32,444, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is National Park College accredited?
Yes. National Park College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend National Park College?
National Park College enrolls 1,789 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at National Park College?
National Park College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is National Park College a public or private college?
National Park College is a Public institution.
Where is National Park College located?
National Park College is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
What programs does National Park College offer?
National Park College offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Health/Medical Preparatory.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at National Park College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at National Park College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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