North Iowa Area Community College vs. SWCC

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

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North Iowa Area Community College vs. Southwestern Community College comparison
North Iowa Area Community College Southwestern Community College College 3 College 4
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Location Mason City, IA Creston, IA
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Students 2,995 1,547
Type Public 2 Year Public 2 Year
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit

Costs
Tuition (In State) $4,793 $5,722
Tuition (Out of State) $7,189 $5,946
Room & Board $7,342 $8,060
Avg Net Price $8,399 $8,740
Avg Grant Aid $4,608 $5,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 79% 81%

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) $34,700 $33,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $8,515 $12,000
Median Loan Payment $88 $124
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Iowa Area Community College is larger than than SWCC based on total student enrollment (2,995 students vs. 1,547 students)

North Iowa Area Community College vs. SWCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Iowa Area Community College or SWCC?

  • Southwestern Community College is 19.4% more expensive to attend than North Iowa Area Community College for in-state tuition ($5,722.00 vs. $4,793.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.9% higher at North Iowa Area Community College than Southwestern Community College ($7,189.00 vs. $5,946.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Iowa Area Community College than SWCC ($8,399 vs. $8,740)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Iowa Area Community College are 9.8% lower than costs at Southwestern Community College ($7,342 vs. $8,060)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern Community College than North Iowa Area Community College (81% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Community College students is 18.9% larger than aid received North Iowa Area Community College ($5,480 vs. $4,608)

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

North Iowa Area Community College vs. SWCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Iowa Area Community College 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 North Iowa Area Community College.

  • Graduates from North Iowa Area Community College earn on average $1,100 more per year than SWCC graduates after ten years. ($34,700 vs. $33,600)
  • North Iowa Area Community College students graduate with a $3,485 lower median federal student loan debt than SWCC graduates. ($8,515 vs. $12,000)
  • North Iowa Area Community College graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than SWCC graduates. ($88 vs. $124)
  • More North Iowa Area Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWCC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

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