Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Seattle, Washington
North Seattle College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$16,377Annual Cost
$47,728Grad Salary
13.7%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$8,351
Need-Based Aid
13.7% receive Pell
North Seattle College, founded in 1970, is a public community college in Washington. It offers programs in allied health, wood technology, and environmental science. The campus features a STEM building and a childcare center.
NSC is unranked but excels in transfer pathways to UW and other four-year schools. Its urban location supports diverse industries, from tech to green energy.
North Seattle College Acceptance Rate
North Seattle College (NSCC) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
North Seattle College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
North Seattle College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
NSCC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (April 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at NSCC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on North Seattle College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
North Seattle College (NSCC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if NSCC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into NSCC Without SAT or ACT?
NSCC's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for NSCC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
NSCC's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Apply to the AD B.A.S. or IB B.A.S. cohort by March 15, not just to North Seattle College generally
General admission to North Seattle is open, but its actual bachelor's programs (Application Development B.A.S., International Business B.A.S., and others) are separate, competitive, cohort-based applications with only ~30 seats each and explicit priority weight given to applications received by March 15 for the fall cohort. A student or transfer-in adult should treat general enrollment and the B.A.S. program application as two different gates, and target the March 15 date specifically rather than assuming open admission covers the bachelor's track too.
Build toward the B.A.S. prerequisite GPA floor while still earning the associate degree
The Application Development B.A.S. requires a completed associate degree with a 2.5+ GPA overall and a 2.5+ in every IT-related prerequisite course specifically - not just an overall qualifying average. A student aiming for this pathway should track their IT-course GPA separately from their overall GPA starting in their first quarter, since a single low grade in a prerequisite class (even with a strong overall average) can disqualify them from the cohort.
Choose a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) degree deliberately if the goal is a four-year university, not the B.A.S.
North has DTA agreements with nearly all four-year colleges in Washington state plus HBCU partners - an AA-DTA or AS-DTA transfers as a recognized package that fulfills most lower-division gen-ed requirements and can grant junior standing. This is a different track from the in-house B.A.S. programs; a student and advisor need to pick DTA vs. B.A.S. explicitly at the start, since course sequencing diverges (DTA students should not load up on the AD B.A.S.-specific prerequisites unless they're keeping that door open).
Use Running Start for local high schoolers to bank free college credit before applying anywhere else
Washington high school juniors/seniors under 18 without a diploma yet can dual-enroll tuition-free through Running Start, submitting a separate application packet distinct from standard admission. This is the highest-leverage move for a local family since it effectively front-loads the DTA general education requirements at no tuition cost - a counselor should flag this to any eligible junior before they've spent a summer weighing other options.
Expert Insight:
Because North Seattle blends true open admission at the general level with quietly competitive, capacity-capped B.A.S. programs, students often assume that being "in" as a North Seattle student means they're on track for the bachelor's degree - then discover in their final associate-degree quarter that the B.A.S. cohort they wanted has already filled from March applicants, forcing a lost year waiting for the next cohort.
NSCC Profile
Full Name
North Seattle College (NSCC)
City
Seattle
State
Washington
ZIP Code
98103-3599
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a NSCC Degree Worth It?
NSCC offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $65,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.41%.
How much does a degree from NSCC Cost?
The sticker price is $16,377/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $8,351.
13.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 2.2% take federal loans at NSCC — file your FAFSA early and list NSCC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a NSCC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $47,728 — about 18% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at NSCC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About NSCC Admissions
Median earnings for North Seattle College graduates sit around $47,728 a year.
At about $16,377 a year, North Seattle College is on the more affordable end.
North Seattle College's Pell Grant rate of 13.7% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
North Seattle College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is April 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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