DMACC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

DMACC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College ($10,755 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 11.5% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($8,244 vs. $9,310).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 26.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than DMACC (about $1,560 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $5,790.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (about $960 more per year; $7,650.00 vs. $6,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (66% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students is 6.3% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($5,442 vs. $5,118).

DMACC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Admissions comparison

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

DMACC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than DMACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $125 lower median loan debt than DMACC graduates ($10,000 vs. $10,125).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DMACC graduates ($103 vs. $104).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.