Iowa Lakes Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, IA with North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Iowa Area Community College is larger than Iowa Lakes Community College based on total student enrollment (2,662 students vs. 1,945 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Lakes Community College is located in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting); North Iowa Area Community College is in Mason City, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. North Iowa Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Lakes Community College 13:1; North Iowa Area Community College 23:1.

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Lakes Community College or North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College than Iowa Lakes Community College ($9,852 vs. $13,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Iowa Area Community College are 3.7% lower than at Iowa Lakes Community College ($8,000 vs. $8,310).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 11.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than North Iowa Area Community College (about $739 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $6,653.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at North Iowa Area Community College than at Iowa Lakes Community College (about $1,679 more per year; $9,551.00 vs. $7,872.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Iowa Area Community College than at Iowa Lakes Community College (86% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by North Iowa Area Community College students is 18.4% larger than aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students ($7,017 vs. $5,926).

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Lakes Community College and North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,700 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, North Iowa Area Community College graduates have a $3,485 lower median loan debt than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($8,515 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, North Iowa Area Community College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($88 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Lakes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Iowa Area Community College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 46%)

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.