Iowa Western Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Western Community College is larger than North Iowa Area Community College based on total student enrollment (5,540 students vs. 2,662 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, IA (Small City setting); North Iowa Area Community College is in Mason City, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Iowa Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. North Iowa Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Western Community College 22:1; North Iowa Area Community College 23:1.

Iowa Western Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Western Community College or North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College than Iowa Western Community College ($9,852 vs. $13,852).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Iowa Area Community College are 8.6% lower than at Iowa Western Community College ($8,000 vs. $8,750).
• Iowa Western Community College is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than North Iowa Area Community College (about $277 more per year; $6,930.00 vs. $6,653.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.9% higher at North Iowa Area Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (about $2,471 more per year; $9,551.00 vs. $7,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Iowa Area Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (86% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by North Iowa Area Community College students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Iowa Western Community College students ($7,017 vs. $6,524).

Iowa Western Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Western Community College vs. North Iowa Area Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Western Community College and North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Iowa Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,700 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, North Iowa Area Community College graduates have a $3,485 lower median loan debt than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($8,515 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, North Iowa Area Community College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($88 vs. $124).
• More North Iowa Area Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Western Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.