Iowa Western Community College vs. Iowa Valley Community College District

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Western Community College is larger than Iowa Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (5,540 students vs. 1,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Iowa Western Community College vs. Iowa Valley Community College District Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Western Community College or Iowa Valley Community College District? 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 Marshalltown Community College than Iowa Western Community College ($8,724 vs. $13,852).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marshalltown Community College are 1% lower than at Iowa Western Community College ($8,660 vs. $8,750).
• Iowa Western Community College is 26.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $1,434 more per year; $6,930.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at Iowa Western Community College than at Marshalltown Community College (about $576 more per year; $7,080.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marshalltown Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (84% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Western Community College students is 14.7% larger than aid received by Marshalltown Community College students ($6,524 vs. $5,690).

Iowa Western Community College vs. Iowa Valley Community College District Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Western Community College or Iowa Valley Community College District? 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 Iowa Valley Community College District 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; Iowa Valley Community College District - Open admission.

Iowa Western Community College vs. Iowa Valley Community College District Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Western Community College and Iowa Valley Community College District? 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 Western Community College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Marshalltown Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Iowa Valley Community College District graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($98 vs. $124).
• More Iowa Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 38%)

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.