Iowa Lakes Community College vs. NICC

Comparable Facts

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

Northeast Iowa Community College is larger than Iowa Lakes Community College based on total student enrollment (4,808 students vs. 1,945 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Lakes Community College is located in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting); Northeast Iowa Community College is in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northeast Iowa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Lakes Community College 13:1; Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1.

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. NICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Lakes Community College or NICC? 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 Northeast Iowa Community College than Iowa Lakes Community College ($10,915 vs. $13,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Lakes Community College are 10.6% lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College ($8,310 vs. $9,300).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NICC (about $612 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $6,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Northeast Iowa Community College (about $102 more per year; $7,872.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeast Iowa Community College than at Iowa Lakes Community College (79% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students ($6,129 vs. $5,926).

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. NICC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Lakes Community College or NICC? 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 NICC 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; NICC - Open admission.

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. NICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Lakes Community College and NICC? 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 Lakes Community College earn a median of about $300 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeast Iowa Community College graduates have a $186 lower median loan debt than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($11,814 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, NICC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($122 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Lakes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NICC students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 47%)

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.