DMACC vs. St Luke's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA with St Luke's College in Sioux City, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Des Moines Area Community College is larger than St Luke's College based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 176 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Des Moines Area Community College is located in Ankeny, IA (Rural Fringe setting); St Luke's College is in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting).
• Des Moines Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. St Luke's College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Des Moines Area Community College 21:1; St Luke's College 7:1.

DMACC vs. St Luke's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or St Luke's 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 St Luke's College ($10,755 vs. $18,248).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Luke's College are 0.1% lower than at Des Moines Area Community College ($8,235 vs. $8,244).
• St Luke's College is 317.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than DMACC (about $18,385 more per year; $24,175.00 vs. $5,790.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 261.4% higher at St Luke's College than at Des Moines Area Community College (about $17,485 more per year; $24,175.00 vs. $6,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Luke's College than at Des Moines Area Community College (80% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Luke's College students is 79.8% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($9,784 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. St Luke's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DMACC or St Luke's 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 St Luke's College and DMACC.

• Des Moines Area Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DMACC - Open admission; St Luke's College - Test optional.

DMACC vs. St Luke's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and St Luke's 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 St Luke's College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than DMACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Des Moines Area Community College graduates have a $3,660 lower median loan debt than St Luke's College graduates ($10,125 vs. $13,785).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Luke's College graduates ($104 vs. $142).
• More St Luke's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.