Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Kirkwood Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Kirkwood Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (12,763 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, IA (Remote Town setting); Kirkwood Community College is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Ellsworth Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Kirkwood Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ellsworth Community College 16:1; Kirkwood Community College 20:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College than Iowa Valley Community College District ($8,936 vs. $11,920).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ellsworth Community College are 1% lower than at Kirkwood Community College ($9,000 vs. $9,090).
• Kirkwood Community College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $680 more per year; $6,176.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.4% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Ellsworth Community College (about $1,716 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ellsworth Community College than at Kirkwood Community College (91% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ellsworth Community College students is 2.7% larger than aid received by Kirkwood Community College students ($6,690 vs. $6,511).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ellsworth Community College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College graduates ($111 vs. $124).
• More Kirkwood Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.