North West College

North West College (NWC) is located in a region of Saskatchewan that has a diverse set of labour needs, with growth in forestry, agriculture and service sectors. The college offers programs in trades, health and community services, academic upgrading and university transfer. It has campuses in North Battleford and Meadow Lake and provides programming for 30 communities, including 20 First Nations communities, spread over 44,000 square kilometres—roughly the size of Switzerland. Residences with space for both students and their families are available at the Meadow Lake campus. Accommodations include a mix of one- to four-bedroom units.

Hands-on experience is an important part of many North West programs. The school operates salons at both campuses, which provide training for hairstyling students. Newly renovated and updated lecture theatres on both campuses make for a more modern learning environment. At the Battlefords campus, the Cenvous Energy Simulation Learning Centre recently upgraded to a state-of-the-art, high-quality learning environment for students. This new facility enables students to gain valuable hands-on experience and further develop their skills as they prepare for clinical placements in health care. It includes 10 bed stations and an addition of a high-fidelity testing room. 

North West is one of Saskatchewan’s seven regional colleges that offer courses created by other educational providers. NWC students can take first-year university classes in partnership with the universities of Saskatchewan and Regina. Many courses are taught in-person by university instructors, while others are broadcast to the college. Students can complete a full four-year bachelor of education or master’s degree at the Meadow Lake campus. In 2019, NWC started a direct-entry stream into the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Tuition

Degree Varies by educational partner

• Diploma $6,050-$12,850

• Certificate $2,800-$8,850

• Post-Grad $9,300-$12,000

Popular Programs

• Psychiatric Nursing

• Business Certificate/Diploma

• Practical Nursing

• Continuing Care Assistant

• Electrician

School Size

Small

Residence Offerings

Yes

Cool Options

• Psychiatric Nursing: This program is offered on NWC’s North Battleford campus, minutes away from Saskatchewan Hospital. Graduates support the health region, continuing a century of mental health expertise in the Battleford area.

• Hairstylist: Students get valuable hands-on experience in this certificate program and learn how to perform techniques on hair, wigs, skin, and nails in an on-site hair salon at the Meadow Lake campus.

• Carpentry: This program includes site layout, framing, and exterior and interior finishings, as well as trade math and communications. Graduates can work at companies, as contractors or in the maintenance departments of organizations.