Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (1,566 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, IA (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Ellsworth Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ellsworth Community College 16:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or SWCC? 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 Southwestern Community College than Iowa Valley Community College District ($9,410 vs. $11,920).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 1% lower than at Ellsworth Community College ($8,910 vs. $9,000).
• Southwestern Community College is 46.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $2,568 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at SWCC than at Ellsworth Community College (about $1,812 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ellsworth Community College than at Southwestern Community College (91% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Ellsworth Community College students ($7,099 vs. $6,690).

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and SWCC? 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 $2,400 more per year than SWCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ellsworth Community College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than SWCC 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 SWCC graduates ($111 vs. $124).
• More SWCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.