Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Iowa Central Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, IA with Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa Central Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (4,949 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, IA (Remote Town setting); Iowa Central Community College is in Fort Dodge, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Ellsworth Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Iowa Central Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ellsworth Community College 16:1; Iowa Central Community College 19:1.

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Iowa Central Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or Iowa Central 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 Iowa Central Community College than Iowa Valley Community College District ($9,902 vs. $11,920).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Central Community College are 3.8% lower than at Ellsworth Community College ($8,655 vs. $9,000).
• Ellsworth Community College and Iowa Central Community College have the same published in-state tuition ($5,496.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Iowa Central Community College than at Ellsworth Community College (about $1,284 more per year; $7,788.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Central Community College than at Ellsworth Community College (93% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ellsworth Community College students is 12.7% larger than aid received by Iowa Central Community College students ($6,690 vs. $5,934).

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Iowa Central Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Valley Community College District or Iowa Central 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 Iowa Central Community College and Iowa Valley Community College District.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iowa Valley Community College District - Open admission; Iowa Central Community College - Open admission.

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Iowa Central Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and Iowa Central 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 Iowa Central Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ellsworth Community College graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Iowa Central Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, Iowa Valley Community College District graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Central Community College graduates ($111 vs. $113).
• More Iowa Valley Community College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Central Community College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 40%)

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.