Career Training Path › Minnesota › Northwest Technical College
Northwest Technical College
Bemidji, Minnesota · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 905 Grant Avenue SE, Bemidji, MN 56601 · Phone: (218) 333-6600 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Northwest Technical College is a public trade school in Bemidji, Minnesota, offering electrician, medical billing & coding, and plumbing programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Northwest Technical College has a 50.0% completion rate versus a 48.2% Minnesota state average, with median graduate debt of $15,000 and median earnings of $42,930 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Northwest Technical College; contact the school for current tuition. The school participates in Title IV federal aid, and about 31.7% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $47,480 | $78,160 | $101,410 |
| Medical records specialists | $48,120 | $61,530 | $70,070 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters | $48,720 | $94,410 | $108,750 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $51,700 | $63,750 | $71,270 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $48,220 | $76,350 | $87,190 |
| Dental assistants | $46,960 | $65,270 | $74,410 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,310 | $58,390 | $73,250 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Minnesota (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 2–4 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | Certificate, 2–4 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | $25,194 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | $29,685 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | $25,194 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 2–4 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 2–4 years | 6 | not reported | $30,771 | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | 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 Technical College is a public trade and career-training campus in Bemidji, Minnesota, located in a remote town setting. The school participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), so students may use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to help cover costs. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Across its 11 program offerings, the largest trade programs by completions are electrician schools (38), medical billing & coding programs (31), and plumbing schools (17), alongside other fields such as LPN programs, HVAC schools, dental assistant schools, and auto mechanic schools.
On outcomes, the campus reports a completion rate of 50.0%, which is near the Minnesota state average of 48.2%. Median debt among graduates who borrowed is $15,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,930. About 31.7% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of low-income enrollment. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 751 undergraduates and 117 trade completers, this campus offers a mix of shorter certificate-style trade programs and technical training that may suit adult students or career changers, based on the program families listed, though specific program lengths are not reported here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and detailed outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard or by contacting the school.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Northwest Technical College offers 11 programs across families including electrician schools, medical billing & coding, plumbing, LPN programs, HVAC, dental assistant, and auto mechanic training. The largest by completions are electrician schools (38), medical billing & coding (31), and plumbing schools (17).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited, with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
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 use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 50.0%, which is near the Minnesota state average of 48.2%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $15,000, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,930, 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 at (218) 333-6600 or visit https://www.ntcmn.edu/ for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Northwest Technical College is a public institution, which generally means lower tuition rates for state residents and public accountability requirements compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status and review detailed outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?173115.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of trade certificate and technical programs, which may suit adult learners, though specific scheduling or program-length details for career changers are not reported in this data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Northwest Technical College at (218) 333-6600 or visit https://www.ntcmn.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; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?173115 to compare campuses.
Nearby trade and career schools in Minnesota
- Leech Lake Tribal CollegeCass Lake, MN · 19% completion
- Northern Truck Driving SchoolMizpah, MN
- Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN · 42% completion
- Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake, MN · 31% completion
- Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN · 40% completion
- Anoka Technical CollegeAnoka, MN · 67% completion
- Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegeGranite Falls, MN · 52% completion
- Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · 58% completion
See all trade and career schools in Minnesota 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.