Hawkeye Community College vs. NICC

Comparable Facts

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

Hawkeye Community College is larger than NICC based on total student enrollment (5,120 students vs. 4,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Northeast Iowa Community College is in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting).
• Hawkeye 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: Hawkeye Community College 13:1; Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1.

Hawkeye Community College vs. NICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hawkeye Community College 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 Hawkeye Community College than NICC ($9,532 vs. $10,915).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeast Iowa Community College are 10.1% lower than at Hawkeye Community College ($9,300 vs. $10,340).
• Northeast Iowa Community College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hawkeye Community College (about $255 more per year; $6,780.00 vs. $6,525.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at NICC than at Hawkeye Community College (about $1,158 more per year; $7,770.00 vs. $6,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hawkeye Community College than at Northeast Iowa Community College (82% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Hawkeye Community College students ($6,129 vs. $5,198).

Hawkeye Community College vs. NICC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hawkeye Community College 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 Hawkeye Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hawkeye Community College - Open admission; NICC - Open admission.

Hawkeye Community College vs. NICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hawkeye Community College 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 Hawkeye Community College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeast Iowa Community College graduates have a $186 lower median loan debt than Hawkeye Community College graduates ($11,814 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, NICC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hawkeye Community College graduates ($122 vs. $124).
• More NICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hawkeye Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

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.