Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) vs Southwestern Community College (SWCC)

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and Southwestern Community College (SWCC) are two esteemed community colleges in Iowa, each offering unique educational opportunities. DMACC boasts an impressive 100% acceptance rate, welcoming students from all backgrounds, while SWCC maintains a slightly more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 98%. Both institutions offer a diverse range of programs, with DMACC excelling in fields like Business, Health Professions, and Liberal Arts, and SWCC specializing in Agriculture, Industrial Technology, and Public Safety. While DMACC's student body is predominantly female, SWCC's population is more evenly balanced between genders. With graduation rates of 28% and 32% respectively, both colleges are committed to student success and providing the necessary support for their students to thrive. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting the key differences between DMACC and SWCC. Explore the table to
Des Moines Area Community College logo

Des Moines Area Community College

Southwestern Community College logo

Southwestern Community College

Overview

Location Ankeny, Iowa Creston, Iowa
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Remote
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 58.0% 65.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $17,740

Out of state: $22,960
In state: $19,632

Out of state: $19,856
Average net price $9,667 $9,766
Tuition
In state: $5,220

Out of state: $10,440
In state: $6,170

Out of state: $6,394
Room & board $7,660
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $4,623
76.0%
Average amount $5,929
Students receiving federal student loan 30.0%
Average amount $4,431
48.0%
Average amount $4,837
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $5,893
5.0%
Average amount $9,606

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 20,536
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
1,542
Men 41.9% Women 58.1%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 10.2%
International students 0.3% 1.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 224 223
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Iowa Missouri Nebraska Puerto Rico Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Automotive Technology
  • Construction Trades
  • Precision Production
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 31.7% 47.3%
Dropout rate 43.5% 32.7%
Transferred out 15.2% 19.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,384
  • Year 3: $56,857
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,133
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $55,632
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,091
  • Year 3: $53,585
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,865
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $52,994
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,457
  • Year 2: $51,750
  • Year 3: $52,825
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,813
  • Year 2: $44,244
  • Year 3: $51,582
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: $50,394
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $48,409
  • Year 2: $46,790
  • Year 3: $43,476
Agricultural Business and Management (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,335
  • Year 2: $39,909
  • Year 3: $42,826
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,970
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $36,221
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,369
  • Year 2: $46,833
  • Year 3: $48,454
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,559
  • Year 2: $20,824
  • Year 3: $30,915
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,290
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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