DMACC vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA with Western Iowa Tech Community 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College based on total student enrollment (23,697 students vs. 5,482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

DMACC vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or Western Iowa Tech 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College than DMACC ($9,061 vs. $10,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Iowa Tech Community College are 17.6% lower than at Des Moines Area Community College ($6,795 vs. $8,244).
• Des Moines Area Community College is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $604 more per year; $5,790.00 vs. $5,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.5% higher at DMACC than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $1,360 more per year; $6,690.00 vs. $5,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Iowa Tech Community College than at Des Moines Area Community College (84% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Iowa Tech Community College students is 11.5% larger than aid received by Des Moines Area Community College students ($6,068 vs. $5,442).

DMACC vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Admissions comparison

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

DMACC vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DMACC and Western Iowa Tech 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 Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Des Moines Area Community College graduates have a $302 lower median loan debt than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates ($10,125 vs. $10,427).
• Among borrowers, DMACC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates ($104 vs. $107).
• More Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.