Iowa Central Community College vs. Iowa Lakes Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA with Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa Central Community College is larger than Iowa Lakes Community College based on total student enrollment (4,949 students vs. 1,945 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, IA (Remote Town setting); Iowa Lakes Community College is in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Iowa Central Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Iowa Lakes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Central Community College 19:1; Iowa Lakes Community College 13:1.

Iowa Central Community College vs. Iowa Lakes Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Central Community College or Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Central Community College than Iowa Lakes Community College ($9,902 vs. $13,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Lakes Community College are 4% lower than at Iowa Central Community College ($8,310 vs. $8,655).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 34.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Central Community College (about $1,896 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Iowa Central Community College (about $84 more per year; $7,872.00 vs. $7,788.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Central Community College than at Iowa Lakes Community College (93% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Central Community College students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students ($5,934 vs. $5,926).

Iowa Central Community College vs. Iowa Lakes Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Central Community College or Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Lakes Community College and Iowa Central Community College.

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

Iowa Central Community College vs. Iowa Lakes Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Central Community College and Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Central Community College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa Central Community College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($11,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Iowa Central Community College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($113 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Lakes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Central Community College students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.