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Western Nebraska Community College
Scottsbluff, Nebraska · Public community college
Address: 1601 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 · Phone: (308) 635-3606 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Western Nebraska Community College is a public trade and career school in Scottsbluff, NE offering LPN/LVN, lineman, and welding programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and ACEN.
Western Nebraska Community College has a 36.6% completion rate, below the 61.0% Nebraska state average, with graduates carrying a median debt of $9,000 and median earnings of $38,729 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Western Nebraska Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 27.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,890 | $62,660 | $71,860 |
| Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $52,930 | $92,150 | $108,570 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $43,850 | $52,220 | $61,810 |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $47,440 | $64,020 | $75,440 |
| Surgical technologists | $49,870 | $63,880 | $68,840 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $36,770 | $50,560 | $62,710 |
| Medical records specialists | $38,620 | $51,670 | $62,960 |
| Dental hygienists | $67,600 | $92,580 | $96,210 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,060 | $41,710 | $52,070 |
| Phlebotomists | $35,660 | $39,540 | $45,310 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $54,410 | $72,860 | $82,650 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Nebraska (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, 1–2 years | 32 | not reported | $31,127 | $9,169 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 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.
About this school
Western Nebraska Community College is a public community college in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and, for its nursing programs, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this campus. Its most-completed trade programs are LPN/LVN programs, Lineman schools, and Welding schools, part of a broader set of 16 program families that also include aviation mechanic training, surgical technology, auto mechanics, medical billing and coding, dental hygiene, EMT training, phlebotomy, and radiology technology.
Federal data show a completion rate of 36.6%, which is below the Nebraska state average of 61.0%. Median debt among graduates is $9,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,729. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 27.2% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment. Total undergraduate enrollment is 893, with 94 trade-program completers reported.
This campus, located in a remote town setting, offers a mix of shorter career-training programs and longer allied-health tracks, which may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers seeking hands-on trades or healthcare credentials, though program length details are not specified here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and detailed outcomes directly through the Higher Learning Commission, the nursing accreditor, and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Western Nebraska Community College offers 16 program families, with LPN/LVN programs, Lineman schools, and Welding schools being the most completed. It also offers aviation mechanic training, surgical technology, auto mechanics, medical billing and coding, dental hygiene, EMT training, phlebotomy, and radiology technology.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its nursing programs also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 36.6%, which is below the Nebraska state average of 61.0%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,000, according to federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,729, 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 at (308) 635-3606 or visit wncc.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, meaning it is state-supported and generally has different pricing and accountability structures than for-profit trade schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program schedules and duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?181817.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The mix of shorter career-training programs and longer allied-health tracks may suit adult career changers, though specific program lengths and scheduling options are not reported here; contact the school to discuss fit.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not detailed in the available data; contact the school directly for guidance on specific program credentialing, such as LPN licensure.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Western Nebraska Community College at (308) 635-3606 or through its website, https://www.wncc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?181817 to compare outcomes 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.