NICC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Northeast Iowa Community College is larger than Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (4,808 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northeast Iowa Community College is located in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting); Northwest Iowa Community College is in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northeast Iowa 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: Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1; Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1.

NICC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NICC 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 Northeast Iowa Community College than Northwest Iowa Community College ($10,915 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeast Iowa Community College are 0.1% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,300 vs. $9,310).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NICC (about $570 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $6,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at NICC than at Northwest Iowa Community College (about $120 more per year; $7,770.00 vs. $7,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeast Iowa Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (79% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students is 19.8% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($6,129 vs. $5,118).

NICC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NICC 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 NICC.

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

NICC vs. Northwest Iowa Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NICC 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 $8,900 more per year than NICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $1,814 lower median loan debt than NICC graduates ($10,000 vs. $11,814).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NICC graduates ($103 vs. $122).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NICC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

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.