DMACC vs. NICC

Comparable Facts

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

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than NICC based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 4,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Northeast Iowa Community College is in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting).
• Des Moines Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northeast Iowa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Des Moines Area Community College 21:1; Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1.

DMACC vs. NICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or NICC? 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 NICC ($10,755 vs. $10,915).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 11.4% lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College ($8,244 vs. $9,300).
• Northeast Iowa Community College is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than DMACC (about $990 more per year; $6,780.00 vs. $5,790.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at NICC than at Des Moines Area Community College (about $1,080 more per year; $7,770.00 vs. $6,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeast Iowa Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (79% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students is 12.6% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($6,129 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. NICC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DMACC or NICC? 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 NICC 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; NICC - Open admission.

DMACC vs. NICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and NICC? 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 $1,700 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Des Moines Area Community College graduates have a $1,689 lower median loan debt than NICC graduates ($10,125 vs. $11,814).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NICC graduates ($104 vs. $122).
• More NICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.