DMACC vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

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

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than SWCC based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 1,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Des Moines Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Des Moines Area Community College 21:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

DMACC vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or SWCC? 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 Southwestern Community College than DMACC ($9,410 vs. $10,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 7.5% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($8,244 vs. $8,910).
• Southwestern Community College is 39.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than DMACC (about $2,274 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $5,790.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.3% higher at SWCC than at Des Moines Area Community College (about $1,626 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $6,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (79% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 30.4% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($7,099 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

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

DMACC vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and SWCC? 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 $2,000 more per year than SWCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $33,600), 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 SWCC graduates ($10,125 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWCC graduates ($104 vs. $124).
• More SWCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.