Northwest Iowa Community College vs. SWCC

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest Iowa Community College is larger than SWCC based on total student enrollment (1,907 students vs. 1,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Southwestern Community College is in Creston, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northwest 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: Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1; Southwestern Community College 14:1.

Northwest Iowa Community College vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest Iowa Community College 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 Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,410 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Community College are 4.3% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($8,910 vs. $9,310).
• Southwestern Community College is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwest Iowa Community College (about $714 more per year; $8,064.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at SWCC than at Northwest Iowa Community College (about $666 more per year; $8,316.00 vs. $7,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (79% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 38.7% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($7,099 vs. $5,118).

Northwest Iowa Community College vs. SWCC Admissions comparison

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

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

Northwest Iowa Community College vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwest Iowa Community College 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 Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than SWCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SWCC graduates ($10,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWCC graduates ($103 vs. $124).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWCC students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.