Iowa Lakes Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Western Iowa Tech Community College is larger than Iowa Lakes Community College based on total student enrollment (5,482 students vs. 1,945 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Lakes Community College is located in Estherville, IA (Remote Town setting); Western Iowa Tech Community College is in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Lakes Community College 13:1; Western Iowa Tech Community College 14:1.

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Lakes Community College or Western Iowa Tech 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College than Iowa Lakes Community College ($9,061 vs. $13,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Iowa Tech Community College are 18.2% lower than at Iowa Lakes Community College ($6,795 vs. $8,310).
• Iowa Lakes Community College is 42.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $2,206 more per year; $7,392.00 vs. $5,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.7% higher at Iowa Lakes Community College than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $2,542 more per year; $7,872.00 vs. $5,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Iowa Tech Community College than at Iowa Lakes Community College (84% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Iowa Tech Community College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Iowa Lakes Community College students ($6,068 vs. $5,926).

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Lakes Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Lakes Community College and Western Iowa Tech 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 Iowa Lakes Community College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have a $1,573 lower median loan debt than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($10,427 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Lakes Community College graduates ($107 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Lakes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Iowa Tech 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.