Kirkwood Community College vs. Southeastern Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Kirkwood Community College is larger than Southeastern Community College based on total student enrollment (12,763 students vs. 3,028 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Southeastern Community College is in West Burlington, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Kirkwood Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southeastern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kirkwood Community College 20:1; Southeastern Community College 14:1.

Kirkwood Community College vs. Southeastern Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kirkwood Community College or Southeastern 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 Southeastern Community College ($8,936 vs. $9,587).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kirkwood Community College are 12% lower than at Southeastern Community College ($9,090 vs. $10,324).
• Southeastern Community College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kirkwood Community College (about $244 more per year; $6,420.00 vs. $6,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Southeastern Community College (about $1,650 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $6,570.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Community College than at Kirkwood Community College (74% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kirkwood Community College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Southeastern Community College students ($6,511 vs. $5,822).

Kirkwood Community College vs. Southeastern Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kirkwood Community College or Southeastern 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 Southeastern 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; Southeastern Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Southeastern Community College Mar 1, 2027.

Kirkwood Community College vs. Southeastern Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kirkwood Community College and Southeastern 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 Kirkwood Community College earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Southeastern Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $30,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southeastern Community College graduates have a $1,800 lower median loan debt than Kirkwood Community College graduates ($10,200 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Southeastern Community College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kirkwood Community College graduates ($105 vs. $124).
• More Southeastern Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kirkwood Community College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.