Iowa Western Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa Western Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (5,540 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, IA (Small City setting); Northwest Iowa Community College is in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Iowa Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwest Iowa Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa Western Community College 22:1; Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1.

Iowa Western Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Western Community College or Northwest Iowa 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 Iowa Western Community College than Northwest Iowa Community College ($13,852 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Western Community College are 6% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($8,750 vs. $9,310).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Western Community College (about $420 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $6,930.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (about $570 more per year; $7,650.00 vs. $7,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Iowa Western Community College (66% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Western Community College students is 27.5% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($6,524 vs. $5,118).

Iowa Western Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Western Community College and Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Iowa Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($10,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa Western Community College graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Western Community College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.