If you can’t decide whether to proceed with an application to Northwest Lineman College, our review of the school will help you make your decision. This review is also a medium for prospective students to gain insight into the challenges and opportunities to expect during their program in the school.
This article discusses all you need to know, including the Northwest Lineman College cost of attendance, Northwest Lineman College accreditation, Northwest Lineman College rankings, and tips for admission. After reading this review, you should be confident enough to make a decision.
All About Northwest Lineman College
Northwest Lineman College (NLC) was founded in 1993 by Gerald McKie, Aaron Howell, and Shane Porter. The school is a private educational institution that trains and certifies lineworkers in the telecommunications, power delivery, and natural gas industries.
With four campus locations across the US, NLC trains more than eight thousand people each year using its developed three-phase educational model to provide quality education. NLC also offers different training programs like the pre-apprentice program, apprenticeship programs, professional safety training, and utility training services.
Where Is Northwest Lineman College Located?
Northwest Lineman has four distinctive campuses located in Idaho, California, Texas, and Florida. The main campus is in Meridian, Idaho, while the California campus is in the city of Oroville. The Texas and Florida campuses are situated in the city of Denton and in the city of Edgewater respectively.
Is Northwest Lineman College Accredited?
Yes, Northwest Lineman is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). This national accrediting agency enhances the quality of education in institutions and ensures programmatic quality assurance. Being accredited by ACCSC means NLC meets or exceeds the agency’s standards of accreditation.
Is Northwest Lineman College Legit?
Yes, Northwest Lineman is legit because it’s an accredited institution. Before a college can be accredited, one of the things the accrediting agency verifies is the college’s legitimacy. Also, NLC has been operating since 1993 and has helped a lot of people in their careers.
Northwest Lineman College Student Reviews
Many students leave positive reviews regarding the environment, instructors, and program. Many commend the instructors who always answer questions to ensure that students understand what’s being taught.
One student on Indeed said that the instructors were amazing and made the program exceptional, while a majority of other reviewers said they were adept. While speaking about the school, another student called it “a great school for someone looking to get into the line trade.”
Negative reviews on Facebook mention the high cost of the school and the service of its housing partner, the collegiate housing service. One of the students complained of extra charges from the housing company even after moving out. Some students felt NLC should be responsible for helping them get a job after completing the program.
Northwest Lineman College Better Business Bureau Reviews and Complaints
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Northwest Lineman was accredited as a recognized business by the organization in October of 1994. It has been in business for 29 years. Currently, the school’s BBB profile shows positive scores as there are no complaints. The school’s profile is also up to date, which is of incredible benefit to the school’s image.
Northwest Lineman College Rankings
Northwest Lineman has not been ranked by any reputable body or organization, yet.
Northwest Lineman College US News & World Report Ranking
Northwest Lineman College is not ranked by US News & World Report at the time of writing.
Northwest Lineman College Times Higher Education Ranking
Northwest Lineman College is not ranked by Times Higher Education at the time of writing.
Northwest Lineman College Graduation Rate
According to 2020 program statistics data, Northwest Lineman’s electrical lineworker program in California, Idaho, Texas, and Florida had a graduation rate of 75 percent, 76 percent, 57 percent, and 74 percent respectively.
Northwest Lineman College Admissions
The admission process for Northwest Lineman College begins upon submitting your application. To confirm your eligibility for admission, NLC requires that you submit a medical release form to show that you are physically and mentally fit. Other minimum admission requirements include having a high school diploma, a valid driver’s license, and medical insurance.
Northwest Lineman College Acceptance Rate
Northwest Lineman has an open admission policy, meaning anyone who meets the admission requirements is granted admission into the school.
Will You Get Into Northwest Lineman College?
You might get into Northwest Lineman if you meet the requirements and submit your application early. You need to meet the minimum requirements before you can get into NLC, otherwise, you will be denied admission. Also, completing your enrollment agreement in time will help you reserve a spot for admission because of the open enrollment policy.
How to Apply to Northwest Lineman College
- Fill out the online application. To apply to NLC, start by filling out the online application form on the school’s website. Create an account, and provide necessary details like your name and email address. Then proceed to select your desired campus, delivery method, and starting term.
- Pay the application fee. After completing all sections of the application, you must pay a non-refundable $100 application fee.
- Submit required documents. You also need to submit documents, like your proof of insurance, a medical physical release form, valid driver’s license, and official high school transcript or proof of GED.
- Complete enrollment process. After you have been accepted, you need to pay the lab fee and sign an enrollment agreement to complete your enrollment process.
- Seek funding options. Next, you can check out funding options, including scholarships, government funding, or student loans.
- Register for optional courses. When you complete your enrollment agreement, you will be able to register for optional courses on your portal.
Northwest Lineman College Cost
| Expense | Northwest Lineman College Cost |
|---|---|
| Northwest Lineman Undergraduate In-State Tuition and Fees | $15,950 (Idaho, Texas, Florida); $17,450 (California) |
| Northwest Lineman Undergraduate Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | N/A |
| Northwest Lineman Graduate In-State Tuition and Fees | N/A |
| Northwest Lineman Graduate Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | N/A |
| Northwest Lineman Books and Supplies | $2,800 |
| Northwest Lineman On-Campus Room and Board | N/A |
| Northwest Lineman Off-Campus Room and Board | $894/month |
NLC has an incredible work culture and does not partake in Title IV funding to maintain low tuition rates. A 10 percent discount is given if you are an NLC Electrical Lineworker Program graduate. You will get a five percent discount if you register as a trainee who has finished an NLC online platform program. NLC offers a discount for companies enrolling multiple trainees.
Cost of Living in Edgewater, Florida
Edgewater is a city located along the Indian River in Volusia County, Florida. The cost of living is five percent lower in Edgewater, Florida, than it is nationwide. The region’s major employers are the public health and education sectors.
The city is a safe place to live with more than 150 acres of parks. Edgewater spans more than 24 square miles. A lovely river walk that follows the Intracoastal Waterway runs through the city and is perfect for cycling, running, and hiking.
Northwest Lineman College Financial Aid
Northwest Lineman offers tuition assistance through scholarships and other assistance for students with options such as private loans and military benefits. There are also plenty of scholarships to apply for. NLC offers student loans that depend on a student’s achievement through a partnership with Meritize Financial.
Meanwhile, Electrical Lineworker Program (ELP) students qualify for several scholarships provided by the electricity sector and local aid organizations. Veterans also qualify for military benefits like the Montgomery GI Bill, which offers monthly benefit payments to military veterans to pay for education and training. Military benefits only cover in-person programs.
Northwest Lineman College Scholarships
- Inland Power. Inland Power awards 15 $1,000 scholarships to college freshmen or graduating high school seniors. Applicants must be children of current Inland Power members.
- The International Lineman Rodeo Association Scholarship Program. This scholarship supports students enrolled in electrical lineman training schools. Applicants must be the child of or referred by a journeyman line worker. Applicants must provide letters of recommendation. The scholarship covers tuition, books, and other costs.
- National Insulator Association Scholarship. These academic and vocational scholarships award an annual minimum of $1,000 and $500, respectively. Application requirements include being linked to a National Insulator Association member, being an insulator collector, or having firsthand experience with insulator collecting.
- Raft River Rural Electric Cooperative Scholarship. This scholarship prepares participants to become corporate employees for utility and power line construction firms. Students who finish the Northwest Lineman College Electrical Line Worker Program receive a $2,000 scholarship every term by Raft River Electric Co-op, Inc.
- San Miguel Power Association Scholarships. San Miguel Power provides college and career scholarships of up to $33,000 annually to students related to SMPA members. For graduating seniors, there are up to 17 awards.
Northwest Lineman College Graduate Salaries and Outcomes
NLC helps students land a satisfying career in linework fields of telecommunication, natural gas, and electric power. According to the college, 76 percent of graduates are now current employees or have started their own businesses.
Contrary to popular opinion, lineman workers do not earn a poor salary. With an industry median wage of $86,000 and beneficial compensation planning, statistics indicate there will be career growth by 2026 resulting in 17,000 employment openings.
Northwest Lineman College Notable Alumni
NLC has a history of producing graduates who go on to become successful business people and were able to land a solid jobs as a result. Take Mark Groves as an example. Groves is the present director of operations at Grid Manufacturing Corporation. He created the OX Block, a gadget with numerous commercial and leisure applications for rope rigging and rescue specialists.
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Northwest Lineman College Campus Life
Northwest Lineman is a private, for-profit college offering training programs at each of its campuses. The main campus is located in Meridian, Idaho, and there are branch campuses in Oroville, California; Denton, Texas; and Edgewater, Florida. On each campus, the school provides a 15-week electrical worker program.
NLC offers practical training to thousands of entry-level professionals, with a variety of advanced training choices such as pre-apprentice programs and utility training. The former provides workers with 13 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training.
Each campus consists of modern classroom and lab facilities, learning resource centers with study spaces, indoor labs and outdoor field training locations that simulate real-world work scenarios, and dining halls for students.
Northwest Lineman College Academics
Northwest Lineman trains over 8,000 students each year on its four campuses. The college is well known for its electrical lineworker program. This program is offered both online and in-person. Northwest Lineman has a 76 percent graduate employment rate. Graduates from Northwest Lineman have the industry skills and techniques necessary to help them land outstanding careers.
Additionally, Northwest Lineman students obtain various industry-demanded certifications such as the First Aid Certification, Climbing Certification, Digger Derrick Safety, Metering Certification, Pole-top Rescue Certification, and many others.
Northwest Lineman College Colleges and Departments
| School or Department Name | Available Program Examples |
|---|---|
| Northwest Lineman College | Electrical Lineworker Program |
Northwest Lineman College Faculty
The four Northwest Lineman campuses have experienced supervisors and instructors that instill the best skills and techniques in students so they become successful linemen. Heath Huckaby is an experienced instructor at Northwest Lineman who has supervised various projects and has served as a Crew Foreman and project manager in line schools.
Michael Munoz is a training supervisor at Northwest Lineman and has experience as a lineman at Tessco Energy Services. Students have described their NLC instructors as experienced and always willing to explain and answer questions. They also host staff meetings where they train on proper corporate work-life practices and provide other assistance for employees.
Popular Northwest Lineman College Majors
Northwest Lineman is popularly known for its electrical lineworker program. This program teaches students skills and techniques necessary to construct, maintain, and repair overhead and underground power lines. Due to the constant changes in the field, Northwest Lineman discontinued other programs it used to offer, leaving just the electrical lineworker program and certification training in several other industrial sectors.
Northwest Lineman College Electrical Lineworker Program
In this electrical lineworker program, students learn to construct, operate, and maintain electricity grids. Students learn skills that help them stand out in the job market and obtain highly valued certifications such as the Smart Grid and Electrical Devices Certification, Applied Mathematics, and Crane Operator Certification.
Additionally, students learn how to operate heavy machinery like bucket trucks and digger derricks. This program is 15 weeks long. Linework is one of the most profitable blue-collar careers. Students can secure jobs in construction companies, communication industries, and the power delivery industry.
Northwest Lineman College Electrical Lineworker Program Jobs
- Cable Line Installers. A cable line installer installs and repairs cables for utilities, construction, and telecommunications companies. A cable line installer examines lines to identify and rectify faulty electrical or telecommunications cables. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a cable line installer is $78,310.
- Lineman Apprentice. A lineman apprentice assists electrical and telecommunication companies in the construction and maintenance of electrical power systems. Other responsibilities include taking measurements, operating heavy machinery, and helping with equipment.
- Fiber Optic Technicians. A fiber optic technician deals with cables used in the transfer of data. A fiber optic technician designs, installs, and repairs telecommunication networks for telephone, Internet, and television services.
Is Northwest Lineman College Worth It?
Yes, Northwest Lineman is worth it. The college has a conducive learning environment with experienced instructors. The four campuses have well-equipped training facilities. You also obtain various certifications that help you land jobs. At the end of your program, you are sure to secure a good job. NLC graduates are in high demand across the country.
Northwest Lineman College Review FAQ
The Northwest Lineman electrical line worker program requires a total of 15 weeks to complete. This time frame is uniform for all NLC campuses. The program has two major phases, known as the knowledge and the skill phase. The theoretical aspect and practical aspects require the hands-on application of classroom knowledge.
Yes, Northwest Lineman is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Northwest Lineman was first accredited in 2000. The ACCSC is a recognized accrediting agency under the US Department of Education.
Northwest Lineman has a community of committed people with a focus on culture, but not the toxic culture you find in some schools. The school admits committed people and arms them with top-level leadership skills.
Northwest Lineman College students get academic training followed by vocational training through the internal training department. They also participate in other incentive programs that contribute to student growth such as a power delivery program, level awards program, and a communications program, which help expand career opportunities and provide excellent benefits to the students.
The best states for linemen include Delaware, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Kansas, Mississippi, Hawaii, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.
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