West Shore Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Scottville, Michigan. It enrolls 782 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
Strong
70/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes26
Value99
Affordability66
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, West Shore Community 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 West Shore Community 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 $1,527 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$1,527
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
4%
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)
$4,470
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,820
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,360
Books & Supplies
$2,150
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,896
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,637
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
$-42
$30,001 – $48,000
$822
$48,001 – $75,000
$2,665
$75,001 – $110,000
$5,433
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.
$1,50010%percentile
$2,36125%percentile
$9,089Medianpercentile
$9,60975%percentile
$16,10590%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 $6,500
↓ $2,589
No Pell $4,100
↓ $4,989
Dependent students $4,196
↓ $4,893
Independent students $7,927
↓ $1,162
Female students $6,500
↓ $2,589
Male students $4,500
↓ $4,589
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,456, less than completers ($9,089), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at West Shore Community College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
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 West Shore Community College earn a median of $36,115 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,115
Earning > $25K
60%
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
$28,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,300, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
West Shore Community College is home to 782 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 64% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
782
Part-Time
64%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.4%605
Hispanic 13.0%102
Other 4.0%31
Black 3.5%27
Asian 1.0%8
International 0.3%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at West Shore Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantScottville, Michigan
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
West Shore Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
21 distinct programs across
8 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 West Shore Community College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,427
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$161,203
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,571
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
25 instructional faculty across 2 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
17
68%
$81,676
Associate Professors
8
32%
$81,350
Pros & Cons of West Shore Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how West Shore Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, West Shore Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about West Shore Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about West Shore Community College.
Is West Shore Community College hard to get into?
West Shore Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at West Shore Community College?
West Shore Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does West Shore Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at West Shore Community College is $1,527 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is West Shore Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,115 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $1,527 per year. That's roughly 23.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is West Shore Community College known for?
West Shore Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do West Shore Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering West Shore Community College are $36,115, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is West Shore Community College accredited?
Yes. West Shore Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend West Shore Community College?
West Shore Community College enrolls 782 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at West Shore Community College?
West Shore Community College graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is West Shore Community College a public or private college?
West Shore Community College is a Public institution.
Where is West Shore Community College located?
West Shore Community College is located in Scottville, Michigan.
What programs does West Shore Community College offer?
West Shore Community College offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at West Shore Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at West Shore Community College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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