Iowa Central Community College vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Central Community College is larger than SWCC based on total student enrollment (4,949 students vs. 1,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, IA (Remote Town setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Iowa Central 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: Iowa Central Community College 19:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

Iowa Central Community College vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Central Community College 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 Iowa Central Community College ($9,410 vs. $9,902).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Central Community College are 2.9% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($8,655 vs. $8,910).
• Southwestern Community College is 46.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Central Community College (about $2,568 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at SWCC than at Iowa Central Community College (about $528 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $7,788.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Central Community College than at Southwestern Community College (93% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 19.6% larger than aid received by Iowa Central Community College students ($7,099 vs. $5,934).

Iowa Central Community College vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Central Community College vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Central Community College 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 Iowa Central Community College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than SWCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $33,600), 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 SWCC 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 SWCC graduates ($113 vs. $124).
• More SWCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Central Community College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.