Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, IA with Southwestern Community College in Creston, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Marshalltown Community College is larger than SWCC based on total student enrollment (1,857 students vs. 1,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marshalltown Community College is located in Marshalltown, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Marshalltown Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marshalltown Community College 20:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Valley Community College District or SWCC? 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 Marshalltown Community College than SWCC ($8,724 vs. $9,410).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marshalltown Community College are 2.8% lower than at Southwestern Community College ($8,660 vs. $8,910).
• Southwestern Community College is 46.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa Valley Community College District (about $2,568 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $5,496.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at SWCC than at Marshalltown Community College (about $1,812 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $6,504.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marshalltown Community College than at Southwestern Community College (84% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 24.8% larger than aid received by Marshalltown Community College students ($7,099 vs. $5,690).

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Valley Community College District or SWCC? 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 SWCC and Iowa Valley Community College District.

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

Iowa Valley Community College District vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa Valley Community College District and SWCC? 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 Southwestern Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Iowa Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Marshalltown Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than SWCC graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Iowa Valley Community College District graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWCC graduates ($98 vs. $124).
• More SWCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 38%)

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.