DMACC vs. Kirkwood Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than Kirkwood Community College based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 12,763 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Kirkwood Community College is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Des Moines Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Kirkwood Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Des Moines Area Community College 21:1; Kirkwood Community College 20:1.

DMACC vs. Kirkwood Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College than DMACC ($8,936 vs. $10,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 9.3% lower than at Kirkwood Community College ($8,244 vs. $9,090).
• Kirkwood Community College is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than DMACC (about $386 more per year; $6,176.00 vs. $5,790.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (about $1,530 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $6,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kirkwood Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (67% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kirkwood Community College students is 19.6% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($6,511 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. Kirkwood Community College Admissions comparison

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

DMACC vs. Kirkwood Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than DMACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $35,600), 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 Kirkwood Community College graduates ($10,125 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kirkwood Community College graduates ($104 vs. $124).
• More Kirkwood Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.