Hawkeye Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Hawkeye Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (5,120 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Northwest Iowa Community College is in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Hawkeye 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: Hawkeye Community College 13:1; Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1.

Hawkeye Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hawkeye Community College 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 Hawkeye Community College than Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,532 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Iowa Community College are 10% lower than at Hawkeye Community College ($9,310 vs. $10,340).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hawkeye Community College (about $825 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $6,525.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.7% higher at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Hawkeye Community College (about $1,038 more per year; $7,650.00 vs. $6,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hawkeye Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (82% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hawkeye Community College students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($5,198 vs. $5,118).

Hawkeye Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Admissions comparison

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

Hawkeye Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hawkeye Community College 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 $6,300 more per year than Hawkeye Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Hawkeye Community College graduates ($10,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hawkeye Community College graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hawkeye Community College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.