Iowa Western Community College vs. NICC

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Western Community College is larger than NICC based on total student enrollment (5,540 students vs. 4,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, IA (Small City setting); Northeast Iowa Community College is in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting).
• Iowa Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northeast Iowa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Western Community College 22:1; Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1.

Iowa Western Community College vs. NICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Western Community College or NICC? 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 Northeast Iowa Community College than Iowa Western Community College ($10,915 vs. $13,852).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Western Community College are 5.9% lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College ($8,750 vs. $9,300).
• Iowa Western Community College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NICC (about $150 more per year; $6,930.00 vs. $6,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at NICC than at Iowa Western Community College (about $690 more per year; $7,770.00 vs. $7,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeast Iowa Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (79% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Western Community College students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students ($6,524 vs. $6,129).

Iowa Western Community College vs. NICC Admissions comparison

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

Iowa Western Community College vs. NICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Western Community College and NICC? 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 $300 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeast Iowa Community College graduates have a $186 lower median loan debt than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($11,814 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, NICC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($122 vs. $124).
• More NICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Western Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.