Northwest Iowa Community College vs Southwestern Community College (SWCC)
Northwest Iowa Community College and Southwestern Community College, both esteemed institutions in Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences. Northwest Iowa boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming all students with open arms, while Southwestern is slightly more selective with an acceptance rate of 98%. In terms of student body demographics, Northwest Iowa has a larger population with over 1,200 students compared to Southwestern's 900. Both colleges offer a diverse range of programs, with popular majors including Business, Health Sciences, and Liberal Arts. However, Northwest Iowa excels in Agriculture and Industrial Technology, while Southwestern shines in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. With graduation rates of 35% and 40% respectively, both colleges are committed to student success and providing the necessary support to achieve academic goals. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two colleges. Explore the table to find the institution that best aligns with your academic aspirations and
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![]() Northwest Iowa Community College |
![]() Southwestern Community College |
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Overview |
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Location | Sheldon, Iowa | Creston, Iowa |
Campus setting | Rural: Fringe | Town: Remote |
College type | 2 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 67.0% | 65.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$20,834
Out of state:
$21,134
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In state:
$19,632
Out of state:
$19,856
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Average net price | $11,613 | $9,766 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,490
Out of state:
$5,790
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In state:
$6,170
Out of state:
$6,394
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Room & board | $6,418 | $7,660 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
83.0%
Average amount $5,084 |
76.0%
Average amount $5,929 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
33.0%
Average amount $4,891 |
48.0%
Average amount $4,837 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $14,188 |
5.0%
Average amount $9,606 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,716
Men 42.5% Women 57.5% |
1,542
Men 41.9% Women 58.1% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 10.2% |
International students | N/A | 1.8% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Fringe | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 178 | 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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 61.7% | 47.3% |
Dropout rate | 27.5% | 32.7% |
Transferred out | 8.8% | 19.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
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