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Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
Minden, Louisiana · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 9500 Industrial Drive, Minden, LA 71055 · Phone: (318) 371-3035 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · Council on Occupational Education; Mar 2024 · Renewal of Accreditation. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College is a public trade school in Minden, LA offering welding, CNA, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College has a 77.4% completion rate, above the state average of 59.2%, and graduates earn a median of $32,503 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College; contact the school for current tuition. The school participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and 56.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $42,810 | $62,250 | $77,310 |
| Nursing assistants | $27,980 | $30,510 | $35,100 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $30,230 | $46,400 | $62,060 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | $37,440 | $51,700 | $62,230 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $45,810 | $57,470 | $61,220 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $36,950 | $58,650 | $65,990 |
| Electricians | $38,750 | $61,540 | $72,840 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $38,900 | $58,680 | $69,100 |
| Barbers | $22,340 | $44,430 | $56,110 |
| Machinists | $39,930 | $61,110 | $75,170 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Louisiana (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 116 | $38,847 | $36,521 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 105 | $29,611 | $19,045 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 53 | $23,152 | $20,824 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 50 | $38,847 | $36,521 | not reported |
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, 1–2 years | 42 | $24,664 | $38,289 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 37 | $29,611 | $19,045 | not reported |
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 33 | $24,664 | $38,289 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 26 | $23,152 | $20,824 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 24 | $23,724 | $15,922 | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | $20,992 | $25,194 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 12 | $23,152 | $20,824 | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | $20,992 | $25,194 | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | $23,724 | $15,922 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | $23,152 | $20,824 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | $29,611 | $19,045 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | $29,611 | $19,045 | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College is a public trade and career-training campus located in Minden, Louisiana. The school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help pay for their education. Among its 18 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in welding schools, CNA classes, and auto mechanic schools, with 142, 116, and 79 completers respectively.
Federal data show a completion rate of 77.4%, which is above the Louisiana state average of 59.2%. Graduates report median earnings of $32,503 ten years after entry. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data, and annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 56.0% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
With a total undergraduate enrollment of 866 and 567 trade completers, this fringe rural campus appears sized for hands-on, program-specific training rather than a large multi-campus system. The mix of welding, CNA, and automotive programs suggests options for both quick-entry certificate paths and longer technical tracks, which may suit career changers, though specific program lengths are not reported here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the latest available outcome figures before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The campus offers 18 program families, with the most completers in welding schools (142), CNA classes (116), and auto mechanic schools (79). Other listed families include heavy equipment, LPN, HVAC, electrician, diesel mechanic, barber, and CNC machining programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can apply for FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 77.4%, which is above the Louisiana state average of 59.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (318) 371-3035 or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $32,503, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (318) 371-3035 or via its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means lower published tuition for state residents and eligibility for state as well as federal aid, though exact costs are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in the available data; contact the school to confirm specific program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status through the Council on Occupational Education and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?160010.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers hands-on trade programs like welding, CNA, and automotive training, which may suit career changers, but specific program lengths and schedules are not reported here, so it's best to contact the school directly.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Specific licensing or certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school at (318) 371-3035 for program-specific licensure details.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College by phone at (318) 371-3035 or visit its website at https://www.nltcc.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?160010 to compare completion rates and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Louisiana
- Northshore Technical Community CollegeLacombe, LA · 40% completion
- Central Louisiana Technical Community CollegeAlexandria, LA · 70% completion
- South Louisiana Community CollegeLafayette, LA · 30% completion
- SOWELA Technical Community CollegeLake Charles, LA · 43% completion
- Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · 24% completion
- Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe, LA · 30% completion
- Fletcher Technical Community CollegeSchriever, LA · 30% completion
- Nunez Community CollegeChalmette, LA · 27% completion
See all trade and career schools in Louisiana or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.