Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Western Iowa Tech Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (5,482 students vs. 685 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ellsworth Community College is located in Iowa Falls, IA (Remote Town setting); Western Iowa Tech Community College is in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting).
• Ellsworth Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ellsworth Community College 16:1; Western Iowa Tech Community College 14:1.

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or Western Iowa Tech 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College than Iowa Valley Community College District ($9,061 vs. $11,920).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Iowa Tech Community College are 24.5% lower than at Ellsworth Community College ($6,795 vs. $9,000).
• Ellsworth Community College is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $310 more per year; $5,496.00 vs. $5,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at Iowa Valley Community College District than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $1,174 more per year; $6,504.00 vs. $5,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ellsworth Community College than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (91% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ellsworth Community College students is 10.3% larger than aid received by Western Iowa Tech Community College students ($6,690 vs. $6,068).

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and Western Iowa Tech 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 $3,900 more per year than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have a $323 lower median loan debt than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates ($10,427 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates ($107 vs. $111).
• More Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.