Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest Iowa Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (1,907 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

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

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College ($11,920 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ellsworth Community College are 3.3% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,000 vs. $9,310).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 33.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $1,854 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Ellsworth Community College (about $1,146 more per year; $7,650.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ellsworth Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (91% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ellsworth Community College students is 30.7% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($6,690 vs. $5,118).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates ($10,000 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates ($103 vs. $111).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.