Hawkeye Community College
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,849 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,649 B
- 44% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,626
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 24.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.6 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $24.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $911,309.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Hawkeye Community College Matters
Hawkeye Community College is a public community college in Waterloo, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,626
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Precision Production, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Hawkeye Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,649 a year after grants and scholarships — 44% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,849 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 87% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.30 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Students at Hawkeye Community College can expect to earn an average of $42,849 within ten years of graduation. This figure highlights the potential return on investment for those who pursue their education here. With a net price of $9,649, the financial commitment remains manageable for many.
The graduation rate stands at 38%. While this may seem low, it reflects the diverse challenges many students face. The Pell Grant rate is 22%, indicating that a portion of the student body comes from low-income backgrounds. This context is important for understanding the educational mobility and support systems in place.
Hawkeye Community College caters to students interested in areas like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. Graduates typically leave with a median debt of $12,000, which is relatively low compared to national averages. Those who thrive here are often motivated and seek practical skills that align with local job markets.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Hawkeye Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hawkeye Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Waterloo, Iowa, Hawkeye Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 96%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,453
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.48
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawkeye Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hawkeye Community College is $6,612, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,649. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,443 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,525
- Out-of-State
- $6,612
- Avg Net Price
- $9,649
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,443
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,151
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,859
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,016
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Hawkeye Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hawkeye Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hawkeye Community College report median earnings of $42,849, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,099
- 8 Years
- $40,878
- 10 Years
- $42,849
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (199)
- 25%
- 100% (199)
- 25%
- 100% (199)
- 25%
- 100% (199)
- 25%
How Hawkeye Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Hawkeye Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hawkeye Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,649/year ($38,596 total). Graduates earn $42,849 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $949,905 in total earnings — a net gain of $911,309 (24.6× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $38,596
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $949,905
- Net Return
- $911,309
- ROI Multiple
- 24.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,649
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Hawkeye Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hawkeye Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.83%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $91,845
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,929,090
- Federal Grants
- $7,851,034
- Investment Income
- $-237,188
Top Programs
The fields Hawkeye Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 26% $56,850 early-career
- Humanities 20%
- Precision Production 8% $53,400 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $40,390 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $60,922 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5% $40,390 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $26,097 early-career
- Criminal Justice 2% $43,355 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hawkeye Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hawkeye Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Waterloo, Iowa, Hawkeye Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawkeye Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hawkeye Community College is $6,612, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,649. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,443 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Hawkeye Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hawkeye Community College report median earnings of $42,849, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Hawkeye Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hawkeye Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Hawkeye Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hawkeye Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hawkeye Community College.
- Jefferson CollegeHillsboro, MO · Close peer35% grad $40,782 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, NY · Close peer36% grad $39,850 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA · Close peer43% grad $42,046 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA · Close peer40% grad $42,793 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ridgewater CollegeWillmar, MN · Close peer48% grad $43,827 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusVineland, NJ · Close peer33% grad $41,751 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hawkeye Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hawkeye Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note