Iowa Central Community College vs. Iowa Western Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Western Community College is larger than Iowa Central Community College based on total student enrollment (5,540 students vs. 4,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, IA (Remote Town setting); Iowa Western Community College is in Council Bluffs, IA (Small City setting).
• Iowa Central Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Iowa Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Central Community College 19:1; Iowa Western Community College 22:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Central Community College or Iowa Western 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 Western Community College ($9,902 vs. $13,852).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Central Community College are 1.1% lower than at Iowa Western Community College ($8,655 vs. $8,750).
• Iowa Western Community College is 26.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Central Community College (about $1,434 more per year; $6,930.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Iowa Central Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (about $708 more per year; $7,788.00 vs. $7,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Central Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (93% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Western Community College students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Iowa Central Community College students ($6,524 vs. $5,934).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Central Community College or Iowa Western 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 Western 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 Western Community College - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Central Community College and Iowa Western 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 Western 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 Western 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 Western Community College graduates ($113 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Central Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.