IHCC vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA with Southwestern Community College in Creston, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indian Hills Community College is larger than SWCC based on total student enrollment (3,184 students vs. 1,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Indian Hills Community College is located in Ottumwa, IA (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Indian Hills 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: Indian Hills Community College 16:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

IHCC vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IHCC 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 IHCC ($9,410 vs. $10,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indian Hills Community College are 13% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($7,752 vs. $8,910).
• Southwestern Community College is 60% more expensive for in-state tuition than IHCC (about $3,024 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $5,040.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.9% higher at SWCC than at Indian Hills Community College (about $2,196 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $6,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indian Hills Community College than at Southwestern Community College (87% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Indian Hills Community College students ($7,099 vs. $6,972).

IHCC vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IHCC 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 IHCC.

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

IHCC vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IHCC 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 Indian Hills Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than SWCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Community College and IHCC graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Southwestern Community College and IHCC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($124 vs. $124).
• More SWCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IHCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 38%)

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.