North Country Community College: An Overview

North Country Community College (NCCC), nestled in the heart of the Adirondack Park in New York, offers a unique educational experience. As the only public college located within the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, NCCC provides students with access to world-class education and unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities. Since 1967, North Country Community College has helped more than 50,000 students find their paths to success. With our three unique Adirondack campus locations, expert instructors, online learning opportunities, and affordable degree programs, a world-class education is waiting for you. This article provides an overview of NCCC, covering its history, academics, student life, and other key aspects.

A Brief History

Founded in 1967, North Country Community College is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The college was established to provide accessible higher education to the residents of the Adirondack region.

Campus Locations

North Country Community College has three campus locations:

Saranac Lake: The main campus is located in Saranac Lake, New York.
Malone: An additional location in Malone.
Ticonderoga: An additional location in Ticonderoga.

Academics

NCCC offers a range of academic programs, including certificate and associate degrees. Students can earn degrees and certificates in 30 different fields. The school utilizes a semester-based academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 14-to-1. The highest degree offered at North Country Community College is an associate degree. The school has an open admissions policy.

Programs Offered

The college offers 25 degree and certificate programs. In 2023, 198 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at North Country Community College. 70.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 29.8% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (154 degrees), 15.4 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, american indian or alaska native (10 degrees).

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Popular programs include:

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
Humanities/Humanistic Studies

Transfer Opportunities

The college has numerous transfer paths within the State University of New York, as well as articulation agreements and transfer options to other four-year colleges and universities. North Country Community College and SUNY Empire partner on new transfer pathways.

Student Life

North Country offers a wide array of student activities on all three campuses: student group activities, student government, volunteer opportunities, career exploration, transfer planning, leadership development and health lifestyles. Many of the college's activities are centered around its location in the Adirondack Park. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails, lakes, and streams provide excellent opportunity for outdoor recreation nearby.

Athletics

College athletics are offered on the Saranac Lake campus and include men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse and women's volleyball. North Country athletics has won over 10 NJCAA National Championships in a variety of sports.

Campus Activities

Join us at the Palace Theatre in Lake Placid on select Thursdays. Join us at Romano's Saranac Lanes in Saranac Lake, NY to Strike Up Some Up between 6 pm and 9:30 pm. Spring Break is March 16-20. Join us tonight at the Saranac Lake Civic Center for Free Ice Skating sponsored by Campus Activities!

Read also: NOCCCD: Your Guide

Student Support Services

Student Support Services are at the core of everything we do. auxiliary, campus safety, career services and more - in this short video.

Costs and Financial Aid

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at North Country Community College is $5,280, which is $−2,973 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,253). After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $11,158.

Tuition and Fees (2020-2021)

In-state tuition and fees: $6,562
Out-of-state tuition and fees: $13,734
Books and supplies: $1,700

Financial Aid

At North Country Community College, 25 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $5,310. 33% of undergraduate students at North Country Community College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023.

Student Body

North Country Community College had a total enrollment of 1,615 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at North Country Community College is 640 students and the part-time enrollment is 975. This means that 39.6% of students enrolled at North Country Community College are enrolled full-time.

Student Demographics (Fall 2022)

Ethnicity Distribution:
- Black or African American
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution:
- Under 18: 42%
- 18-24: 30%
- 25-64: 27%
- Over 65: 0%

The enrolled student population at North Country Community College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 79.3% White, 4.02% American Indian or Alaska Native, 3.34% Black or African American, 2.04% Asian, 1.42% Hispanic or Latino, 0.433% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.248% Two or More Races.

Read also: Academic Pathways at UNC

Students enrolled at North Country Community College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (50.5%), followed by White Male (18.9%) and Black or African American Male (5.32%).

Outcomes

Graduation and Retention Rates

The graduation rate for North Country Community College is 25.4%. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at North Country Community College was 51%.

Career Paths

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at North Country Community College are Registered nurses (1,556,629 people), Accountants & auditors (1,033,748 people), Other managers (830,287 people), Financial managers (528,926 people), and Chief executives & legislators (422,255 people).

Additional Information

Accreditation

North Country Community College is accredited.

Campus Safety

Campus safety is a priority at North Country Community College.

Employment Services

Employment services for students are available.

Academic/Career Counseling

Academic/career counseling service is available.

Recent News and Events

Honors Students

North Country Community College named its President's List and Vice President's List honors students for the Fall 2025 semester.

Olympic Success

North Country Community College proudly congratulates Sophia Kirkby of Ray Brook on an outstanding performance at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, where she placed fifth in the women's doubles luge competition -- marking her first appearance at the Olympic Games.

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