DMACC vs. SWCC

Should I go to Des Moines Area Community College or Southwestern Community College? Compare the two schools' costs, SAT, ACT, GPA, admissions criteria and outcomes to help you determine if DMACC or SWCC is the better college for you.

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Des Moines Area Community College vs. Southwestern Community College comparison
Des Moines Area Community College Southwestern Community College College 3 College 4
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Location Ankeny, IA Creston, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Rural Fringe
Students 23,474 1,547
Type Public 2 Year Public 2 Year
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit

Costs
Tuition (In State) $4,680 $5,498
Tuition (Out of State) $9,360 $5,722
Room & Board $7,302 $7,660
Avg Net Price $9,995 $8,284
Avg Grant Aid $3,909 $4,959
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 74%

Admission and Academics
Acceptance Rate Open Open
Avg High School GPA - -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Application Deadline

Outcomes
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,600 $33,600
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $10,125 $12,000
Median Loan Payment $104 $124
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Comparable Facts

  • Des Moines Area Community College is larger than than SWCC based on total student enrollment (23,474 students vs. 1,547 students)

DMACC vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DMACC or SWCC?

  • Southwestern Community College is 17.5% more expensive to attend than DMACC for in-state tuition ($5,498.00 vs. $4,680.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.6% higher at DMACC than Southwestern Community College ($9,360.00 vs. $5,722.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern Community College than DMACC ($8,284 vs. $9,995)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Des Moines Area Community College are 4.9% lower than costs at Southwestern Community College ($7,302 vs. $7,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern Community College than Des Moines Area Community College (74% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 26.9% larger than aid received Des Moines Area Community College ($4,959 vs. $3,909)

Which college is harder to get into, DMACC or SWCC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SWCC or DMACC .

DMACC vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DMACC or SWCC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SWCC and DMACC.

  • Graduates from Des Moines Area Community College earn on average $2,000 more per year than SWCC graduates after ten years. ($35,600 vs. $33,600)
  • Des Moines Area Community College students graduate with a $1,875 lower median federal student loan debt than SWCC graduates. ($10,125 vs. $12,000)
  • DMACC graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than SWCC graduates. ($104 vs. $124)
  • More SWCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DMACC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 36%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/