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West Shore Community College

Scottville, Michigan · Public community college

LPN / LVN programsWelding schoolsMedical billing & coding programsMedical assistant programsCNC & machining programsCNA classesEMT & paramedic training
27%completion rate · Michigan avg 57%
$9,089median debt of graduates
$34,841median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$36,115median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (Accredited)
Address: 3000 N Stiles Rd, Scottville, MI 49454 · Phone: (231) 845-6211 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

West Shore Community College is a public trade and career school in Scottville, Michigan, offering LPN, welding, and medical billing & coding programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

West Shore Community College has a 27.2% completion rate, below the state average of 56.9%, with median graduate debt of $9,089 and median earnings of $36,115 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for West Shore Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 30.2% of students receive Pell.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
West Shore Community … West Shore Community …: 27.2% 27.2% Michigan average Michigan average: 56.9% 56.9% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$56,160$65,460$73,880
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$39,090$49,990$59,190
Medical records specialists$37,180$48,120$61,470
Medical assistants$35,000$39,870$46,020
Machinists$38,370$52,360$62,300
Nursing assistants$36,830$39,570$44,910
Emergency medical technicians$35,360$39,870$45,130

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Michigan (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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 20 not reported not reported $6,641
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 7 not reported $40,485 not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 3 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 2 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 2 not reported $40,485 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 1 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Associate degree 1 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

West Shore Community College is a public trade and career campus in Scottville, Michigan, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Because it participates in Title IV, students here can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants. The campus awards trade credentials primarily in LPN / LVN programs, welding, and medical billing & coding, among a total of eight program families offered.

Federal data shows a completion rate of 27.2%, which is below the state average of 56.9%. About 40 students completed a trade program, out of an undergraduate enrollment of 782. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,089, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,115. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Roughly 30.2% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting a significant share of low-income enrollment.

This campus, located in a distant rural setting, may suit students seeking shorter, hands-on trade credentials such as LPN, welding, or medical billing rather than a traditional four-year path. The specific length of each program is not reported for this campus in federal data, so prospective students—especially adult career changers—should contact the school directly to confirm scheduling and program duration. To verify accreditation status and outcomes independently, check the Higher Learning Commission's accreditation records and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard listing for this school.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

West Shore Community College offers eight program families, with the most students in LPN / LVN programs, welding, and medical billing & coding.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with a status of Accredited.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grant funding.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 27.2%, which is below the state average of 56.9%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Median debt among graduates is $9,089, according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,115, per federal 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 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 tuition for state residents and eligibility for state funding, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (231) 845-6211 or visit its website to confirm schedules.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and review federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?172671.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The campus offers shorter trade credential programs like LPN, welding, and medical billing, which may suit career changers, though specific program lengths and scheduling are not reported here—contact the school to confirm fit.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach West Shore Community College at (231) 845-6211 or through its website, https://www.westshore.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Federal data does not provide a direct comparison to other nearby schools; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.

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.

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