NICC vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

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

Northeast Iowa Community College is larger than SWCC based on total student enrollment (4,808 students vs. 1,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northeast Iowa Community College is located in Calmar, IA (Distant Rural setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northeast Iowa 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: Northeast Iowa Community College 15:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

NICC vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NICC 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 Southwestern Community College than NICC ($9,410 vs. $10,915).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 4.2% lower than at Northeast Iowa Community College ($8,910 vs. $9,300).
• Southwestern Community College is 18.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NICC (about $1,284 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $6,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at SWCC than at Northeast Iowa Community College (about $546 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Northeast Iowa Community College as at Southwestern Community College (79% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Northeast Iowa Community College students ($7,099 vs. $6,129).

NICC vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NICC 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 NICC.

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

NICC vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NICC 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 Northeast Iowa Community College earn a median of about $300 more per year than SWCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,900 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeast Iowa Community College graduates have a $186 lower median loan debt than SWCC graduates ($11,814 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, NICC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWCC graduates ($122 vs. $124).
• More NICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWCC students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

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.