Northwest–Shoals Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education with two campuses. One campus is located in Phil Campbell, Alabama and the second campus is located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It is intended to serve Colbert County, Franklin County, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, and portions of Winston County. The school currently has an enrollment of more than 5,300 students. The school awards Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Occupational Technology degrees as well as certificates in occupationally specific areas. Associate degrees are designated university parallel programs and are easily transferred to a four-year college or university such as the University of Alabama or UAB to complete a bachelor's degree. Certificate programs, in contrast to the Associate's degree, can last from one semester to two years and certify completion of specific technical or occupational training programs. Some of these programs do not require a high school degree.