DMACC vs. IHCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA with Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than IHCC based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 3,184 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Indian Hills Community College is in Ottumwa, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Des Moines Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Indian Hills Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Des Moines Area Community College 21:1; Indian Hills Community College 16:1.

DMACC vs. IHCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or IHCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indian Hills Community College than DMACC ($10,340 vs. $10,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indian Hills Community College are 6% lower than at Des Moines Area Community College ($7,752 vs. $8,244).
• Des Moines Area Community College is 14.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than IHCC (about $750 more per year; $5,790.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.3% higher at DMACC than at Indian Hills Community College (about $570 more per year; $6,690.00 vs. $6,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indian Hills Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (87% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Indian Hills Community College students is 28.1% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($6,972 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. IHCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DMACC or IHCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between IHCC and DMACC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DMACC - Open admission; IHCC - Open admission.

DMACC vs. IHCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and IHCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than IHCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Des Moines Area Community College graduates have a $1,875 lower median loan debt than IHCC graduates ($10,125 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IHCC graduates ($104 vs. $124).
• More IHCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 36%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.