Iowa Valley Community College District vs. NICC

Comparable Facts

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

Northeast Iowa Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (4,808 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, IA (Remote Town setting); Northeast Iowa Community College is in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting).
• Ellsworth Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northeast Iowa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ellsworth Community College 16:1; Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1.

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. NICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or NICC? 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 Northeast Iowa Community College than Iowa Valley Community College District ($10,915 vs. $11,920).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ellsworth Community College are 3.2% lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College ($9,000 vs. $9,300).
• Northeast Iowa Community College is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $1,284 more per year; $6,780.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.5% higher at NICC than at Ellsworth Community College (about $1,266 more per year; $7,770.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ellsworth Community College than at Northeast Iowa Community College (91% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ellsworth Community College students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students ($6,690 vs. $6,129).

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. NICC Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. NICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and NICC? 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 $2,100 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ellsworth Community College graduates have a $1,064 lower median loan debt than NICC graduates ($10,750 vs. $11,814).
• Among borrowers, Iowa Valley Community College District graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NICC graduates ($111 vs. $122).
• More NICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.