Northern Lakes College (NLC) serves 50-plus Northern Alberta communities, and more than half of its students are Indigenous. NLC supports distance and flexible learning options; students can even gain practical trade experience in their home communities at two mobile training labs. The dual credit program allows high school students to experience college programs while earning both high school and post-secondary credits.

NLC has residences at the Grouard, Slave Lake and Wabasca campuses. At Grouard and Slave Lake, students can participate in outdoor activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

NLC offers a range of certificates and diplomas in academic upgrading, apprenticeship trades, business and administrative studies, health, human services, pre-employment trades, resource technology and university studies. The college provides degree-completion opportunities with diploma courses counting toward a bachelor of education or social work. The continuing education and corporate training department houses various professional accreditation and certificate programs.