Northwest Iowa Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, 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 Northwest Iowa Community College based on total student enrollment (5,482 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, IA (Rural Fringe setting); Western Iowa Tech Community College is in Sioux City, IA (Small City setting).
• Northwest Iowa 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: Northwest Iowa Community College 16:1; Western Iowa Tech Community College 14:1.

Northwest Iowa Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College ($9,061 vs. $14,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Iowa Tech Community College are 27% lower than at Northwest Iowa Community College ($6,795 vs. $9,310).
• Northwest Iowa Community College is 41.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $2,164 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $5,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.5% higher at Northwest Iowa Community College than at Western Iowa Tech Community College (about $2,320 more per year; $7,650.00 vs. $5,330.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Iowa Tech Community College than at Northwest Iowa Community College (84% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Iowa Tech Community College students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Northwest Iowa Community College students ($6,068 vs. $5,118).

Northwest Iowa Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwest Iowa 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 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; Western Iowa Tech Community College - Open admission.

Northwest Iowa Community College vs. Western Iowa Tech Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,800 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have a $427 lower median loan debt than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates ($10,000 vs. $10,427).
• Among borrowers, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates ($103 vs. $107).
• More Northwest Iowa Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Iowa Tech Community College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.