Kirkwood Community College vs. NICC

Comparable Facts

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

Kirkwood Community College is larger than NICC based on total student enrollment (12,763 students vs. 4,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Northeast Iowa Community College is in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting).
• Kirkwood 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: Kirkwood Community College 20:1; Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1.

Kirkwood Community College vs. NICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College than NICC ($8,936 vs. $10,915).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kirkwood Community College are 2.3% lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College ($9,090 vs. $9,300).
• Northeast Iowa Community College is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kirkwood Community College (about $604 more per year; $6,780.00 vs. $6,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Northeast Iowa Community College (about $450 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeast Iowa Community College than at Kirkwood Community College (79% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kirkwood Community College students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students ($6,511 vs. $6,129).

Kirkwood Community College vs. NICC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College.

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

Kirkwood Community College vs. NICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 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 Kirkwood Community College graduates ($11,814 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, NICC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kirkwood Community College graduates ($122 vs. $124).
• More NICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kirkwood 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.