DMACC vs. Iowa Lakes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than Iowa Lakes Community College based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 1,945 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Iowa Lakes Community College is in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Des Moines Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Iowa Lakes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Des Moines Area Community College 21:1; Iowa Lakes Community College 13:1.

DMACC vs. Iowa Lakes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or Iowa Lakes Community College? 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 Des Moines Area Community College than Iowa Lakes Community College ($10,755 vs. $13,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 0.8% lower than at Iowa Lakes Community College ($8,244 vs. $8,310).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 27.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than DMACC (about $1,602 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $5,790.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.7% higher at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (about $1,182 more per year; $7,872.00 vs. $6,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (72% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($5,926 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. Iowa Lakes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DMACC or Iowa Lakes Community College? 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 Iowa Lakes Community College 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; Iowa Lakes Community College - Open admission.

DMACC vs. Iowa Lakes Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and Iowa Lakes Community College? 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 $1,400 more per year than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $34,200), 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 Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($10,125 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($104 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Lakes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.