Kirkwood Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Kirkwood Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (12,763 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Northwest Iowa Community College is in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Kirkwood 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: Kirkwood Community College 20:1; Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1.

Kirkwood Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College than Northwest Iowa Community College ($8,936 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kirkwood Community College are 2.4% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,090 vs. $9,310).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kirkwood Community College (about $1,174 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $6,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (about $570 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $7,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kirkwood Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (67% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kirkwood Community College students is 27.2% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($6,511 vs. $5,118).

Kirkwood Community College vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Kirkwood 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 $6,200 more per year than Kirkwood Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $36,600), 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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kirkwood 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.