Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Iowa Lakes Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Lakes Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (1,945 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, IA (Remote Town setting); Iowa Lakes Community College is in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Ellsworth Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Iowa Lakes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ellsworth Community College 16:1; Iowa Lakes Community College 13:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or Iowa Lakes 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 Ellsworth Community College than Iowa Lakes Community College ($11,920 vs. $13,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Lakes Community College are 7.7% lower than at Ellsworth Community College ($8,310 vs. $9,000).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 34.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $1,896 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21% higher at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Ellsworth Community College (about $1,368 more per year; $7,872.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ellsworth Community College than at Iowa Lakes Community College (91% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ellsworth Community College students is 12.9% larger than aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students ($6,690 vs. $5,926).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Valley Community College District or Iowa Lakes 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 Lakes 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 Lakes Community College - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and Iowa Lakes 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 Ellsworth Community College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ellsworth Community College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Iowa Valley Community College District graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($111 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Lakes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.