North Iowa Area Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Western Iowa Tech Community College is larger than North Iowa Area Community College based on total student enrollment (5,482 students vs. 2,662 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• North Iowa Area Community College is located in Mason City, IA (Remote Town setting); Western Iowa Tech Community College is in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting).
• North Iowa Area 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: North Iowa Area Community College 23:1; Western Iowa Tech Community College 14:1.

North Iowa Area Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Iowa Area 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College than North Iowa Area Community College ($9,061 vs. $9,852).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Iowa Tech Community College are 15.1% lower than at North Iowa Area Community College ($6,795 vs. $8,000).
• North Iowa Area Community College is 28.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $1,467 more per year; $6,653.00 vs. $5,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.2% higher at North Iowa Area Community College than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $4,221 more per year; $9,551.00 vs. $5,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Iowa Area Community College than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (86% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by North Iowa Area Community College students is 15.6% larger than aid received by Western Iowa Tech Community College students ($7,017 vs. $6,068).

North Iowa Area Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College.

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

North Iowa Area Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,700 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, North Iowa Area Community College graduates have a $1,912 lower median loan debt than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates ($8,515 vs. $10,427).
• Among borrowers, North Iowa Area Community College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates ($88 vs. $107).
• More North Iowa Area Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Iowa Tech Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 46%)

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.