Hawkeye Community College
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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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 38%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Hawkeye Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $6,612 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $9,649 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,443 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $12,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Hawkeye Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hawkeye Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hawkeye Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Hawkeye Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $6,612 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $9,649 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,443 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $12,000.
Is Hawkeye Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Hawkeye Community College report median earnings of $42,849; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.30 (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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.30 (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