Northeast Iowa Community College is a public, tax-supported, two-year educational institution governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees. Trustees set policy and are elected by the voters of their district to four-year terms.

Additionally, the administrative cabinet provides leadership to the College, serving in an advisory role to the president.

The College also employs academic deans, who along with the vice president of learning and student success, set academic policy for the College. The College operates under a three-year strategic plan.