North Iowa Area Community College celebrates a 98 percent placement rate as reported in the 2004 Career Placement Report. Iowa employers also celebrate the report that 91 percent of these graduates are working in Iowa.

The 2004 Career Placement Report study, conducted by the North Iowa Career Center on the NIACC campus, involved 261 graduates of the one- and two-year training programs in the College's Business, Health, Agriculture and Industrial Technology divisions. The survey response rate was 90 percent.

"The College serves area residents by providing training opportunities for high demand careers with attractive wages, and serves our business community by developing a well-trained workforce," said North Iowa Career Center Director Kim Caponi, noting that NIACC's placement rate has exceeded 90 percent for more than a decade. "At a time when Iowa faces population declines and predicted workforce shortages, it is important that our skilled graduates are staying in Iowa."

Of 35 career programs with graduates in 2004 at NIACC, 30 experienced 100 percent placement. It is not uncommon for NIACC graduates' starting salaries to compete with experienced level wages across the state and nation. Graduates of NIACC's physical therapist assistant program, for instance, averaged $16.15 per hour, which is higher than the experienced median hourly wage of $15.02 in Iowa.

Some of the other top starting salaries went to NIACC students completing studies in the areas of associate degree nursing (ADN); licensed practical nursing (LPN); information systems technology; e-commerce, web design and development; criminal justice; accounting; and automotive service technology.

The North Iowa Career Center provides services for businesses, NIACC students, NIACC alumni and many others. The Center conducts job fairs and career/college days, provides an online job internship and resume bank, works with students on choosing a major, conducting a job search and partners with Iowa Workforce Development to match up businesses with qualified job seekers.

For more information, contact the North Iowa Career Center at 641-422-4353 or 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4353.

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For more information, contact the Marketing and Community Relations Department
North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, Iowa  50401
422-4295 or 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4295
www.niacc.edu