Kirkwood Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Kirkwood Community College is larger than Western Iowa Tech Community College based on total student enrollment (12,763 students vs. 5,482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Western Iowa Tech Community College is in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting).
• Kirkwood Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kirkwood Community College 20:1; Western Iowa Tech Community College 14:1.

Kirkwood Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kirkwood Community College or Western Iowa Tech 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College ($8,936 vs. $9,061).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Iowa Tech Community College are 25.2% lower than at Kirkwood Community College ($6,795 vs. $9,090).
• Kirkwood Community College is 19.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $990 more per year; $6,176.00 vs. $5,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.2% higher at Kirkwood Community College than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $2,890 more per year; $8,220.00 vs. $5,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Iowa Tech Community College than at Kirkwood Community College (84% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kirkwood Community College students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Western Iowa Tech Community College students ($6,511 vs. $6,068).

Kirkwood Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Admissions comparison

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

Kirkwood Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kirkwood Community College and Western Iowa Tech 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 $4,500 more per year than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have a $1,573 lower median loan debt than Kirkwood Community College graduates ($10,427 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kirkwood Community College graduates ($107 vs. $124).
• More Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kirkwood Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.