Iowa Central Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Deciding between Iowa Central Community College and Northwest Iowa Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA
  • Setting
  • Iowa Central Community College Remote Town
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Iowa Central Community College 4,949
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 1,907
  • Type
  • Iowa Central Community College Public 2 Year
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Iowa Central Community College -
  • Northwest Iowa Community College -
  • Status
  • Iowa Central Community College Non-profit
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Iowa Central Community College $5,496
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $7,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Iowa Central Community College $7,788
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $7,650
  • Room & Board
  • Iowa Central Community College $8,655
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $9,310
  • Average Net Price
  • Iowa Central Community College $9,902
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $14,691
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Iowa Central Community College $5,934
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $5,118
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Iowa Central Community College 93%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 66%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Iowa Central Community College Calculate
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Calculate
  • Applied
  • Iowa Central Community College -
  • Northwest Iowa Community College -
  • Admitted
  • Iowa Central Community College -
  • Northwest Iowa Community College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Iowa Central Community College Open
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Open
  • Enrolled
  • Iowa Central Community College Open
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Iowa Central Community College -
  • Northwest Iowa Community College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Iowa Central Community College -
  • Northwest Iowa Community College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Iowa Central Community College Unavailable
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
  • ACT Range
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
  • SAT Range
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Iowa Central Community College Open admission
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Iowa Central Community College
  • Northwest Iowa Community College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Iowa Central Community College 19:1
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Iowa Central Community College
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (30%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (9%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • Northwest Iowa Community College
    • Construction Trades (25%)
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Business (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Iowa Central Community College -
  • Northwest Iowa Community College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Iowa Central Community College $36,500
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $42,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Iowa Central Community College 40%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Iowa Central Community College $11,000
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $10,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Iowa Central Community College $113
  • Northwest Iowa Community College $103

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Iowa Central Community College 45%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 43%
  • % Women
  • Iowa Central Community College 55%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Iowa Central Community College Medium
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Iowa Central Community College No
  • Northwest Iowa Community College No
  • % White
  • Iowa Central Community College 69%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 87%
  • % Asian
  • Iowa Central Community College 1%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 2%
  • % Black
  • Iowa Central Community College 13%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Iowa Central Community College 7%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 5%
  • % Native American
  • Iowa Central Community College 0%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Iowa Central Community College 0%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Iowa Central Community College 1%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 2%
  • % International
  • Iowa Central Community College 2%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Iowa Central Community College 6%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Iowa Central Community College 68%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Iowa Central Community College 24%
  • Northwest Iowa Community College 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Iowa Central Community College Yes
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Iowa Central Community College No
  • Northwest Iowa Community College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Iowa Central Community College Yes
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Iowa Central Community College Yes
  • Northwest Iowa Community College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Iowa Central Community College No
  • Northwest Iowa Community College No
  • Learn More
  • Iowa Central Community College Details
  • Northwest Iowa Community College Details

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Central Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (4,949 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, IA (Remote Town setting); Northwest Iowa Community College is in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Iowa Central 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: Iowa Central Community College 19:1; Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Central 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 Iowa Central Community College than Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,902 vs. $14,691).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Central Community College are 7% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($8,655 vs. $9,310).
  • Northwest Iowa Community College is 33.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Central Community College (about $1,854 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $5,496.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Iowa Central Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (about $138 more per year; $7,788.00 vs. $7,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Central Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (93% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Central Community College students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($5,934 vs. $5,118).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Central 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 Iowa Central 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 $1,000 lower median loan debt than Iowa Central Community College graduates ($10,000 vs. $11,000).
  • Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Central Community College graduates ($103 vs. $113).
  • More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Central Community College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.