Iowa Lakes Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Lakes Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (1,945 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Lakes Community College is located in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting); Northwest Iowa Community College is in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Iowa Lakes 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 Lakes Community College 13:1; Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Lakes 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 Lakes Community College than Northwest Iowa Community College ($13,278 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Lakes Community College are 10.7% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($8,310 vs. $9,310).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest Iowa Community College (about $42 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (about $222 more per year; $7,872.00 vs. $7,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (72% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($5,926 vs. $5,118).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Lakes 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 $8,600 more per year than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($10,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Lakes Community College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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.