Iowa Western Community College vs. Kirkwood Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, IA with Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kirkwood Community College is larger than Iowa Western Community College based on total student enrollment (12,763 students vs. 5,540 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, IA (Small City setting); Kirkwood Community College is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Iowa Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Kirkwood Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Western Community College 22:1; Kirkwood Community College 20:1.

Iowa Western Community College vs. Kirkwood Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Western Community College or Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College than Iowa Western Community College ($8,936 vs. $13,852).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Western Community College are 3.7% lower than at Kirkwood Community College ($8,750 vs. $9,090).
• Iowa Western Community College is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kirkwood Community College (about $754 more per year; $6,930.00 vs. $6,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (about $1,140 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $7,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kirkwood Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (67% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Western Community College students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Kirkwood Community College students ($6,524 vs. $6,511).

Iowa Western Community College vs. Kirkwood Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Western Community College or Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College and Iowa Western Community College.

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

Iowa Western Community College vs. Kirkwood Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Western Community College and Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Iowa Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kirkwood Community College and Iowa Western Community College graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Kirkwood Community College and Iowa Western Community College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($124 vs. $124).
• More Kirkwood Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Western Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 42%)

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.