Indian Hills Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 40% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,507 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,693 B
- 38% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,495
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.0 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $20.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $811,828.
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 40% — 30% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Indian Hills Community College Matters
Indian Hills Community College is a public community college in Ottumwa, 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
- 1,495
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production
Why students choose Indian Hills 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 $10,693 a year after grants and scholarships — 38% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,507 ten years after enrolling — 1% below the typical college, against $10,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 60% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.18 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Indian Hills Community College serves around 1,495 students, focusing on practical skills and career readiness. With a net price of $10,693, it stands out as an affordable option for those seeking higher education without the burden of extreme debt.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, the mobility rate is not available, but the college still presents a solid path for students in lower income brackets. With 24% of students receiving Pell Grants, there is support for those who need it most. Graduates can expect to earn an average of $40,507 within ten years of completing their degree.
Students who thrive here often pursue programs in health professions, humanities, or technology fields. The graduation rate is 40%, indicating that while a significant number of students successfully complete their programs, there is room for improvement. With median debt at $10,500, students can expect a manageable financial landscape as they transition into the workforce.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Indian Hills 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 Indian Hills Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Indian Hills Community College, located in Ottumwa, Iowa, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 44%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,348
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
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 Indian Hills Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indian Hills Community College is $6,120, 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 $10,693. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,561 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,040
- Out-of-State
- $6,120
- Avg Net Price
- $10,693
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 19%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,561
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,407
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,960
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,397
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 Indian Hills 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 Indian Hills Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indian Hills Community College report median earnings of $40,507, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,540
- 8 Years
- $39,951
- 10 Years
- $40,507
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (255)
- 32%
- 100% (255)
- 32%
- 100% (255)
- 32%
- 100% (255)
- 32%
How Indian 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 Indian Hills Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Indian Hills Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,693/year ($42,772 total). Graduates earn $40,507 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $854,600 in total earnings — a net gain of $811,828 (20.0× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $42,772
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $854,600
- Net Return
- $811,828
- ROI Multiple
- 20.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,693
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 40%
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 Indian Hills Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Indian Hills Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.28%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.28%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $80,976
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,185,761
- Federal Grants
- $4,309,684
- Investment Income
- $105,617
Top Programs
The fields Indian Hills 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.
- Humanities 25%
- Health Professions 22% $57,826 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 9% $41,658 early-career
- Precision Production 9% $56,455 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $64,204 early-career
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Education 3%
- Psychology 3%
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 Indian Hills 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 Indian Hills Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Indian Hills Community College, located in Ottumwa, Iowa, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Indian Hills Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Indian Hills Community College is $6,120, 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 $10,693. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,561 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is Indian Hills Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Indian Hills Community College report median earnings of $40,507, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Indian Hills Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Indian Hills Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.28%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Indian Hills 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 Indian Hills Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Indian Hills Community College.
- College of Eastern IdahoIdaho Falls, ID · Close peer37% grad $42,057 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY AdirondackQueensbury, NY · Close peer33% grad $41,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tompkins Cortland Community CollegeDryden, NY · Close peer26% grad $40,707 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Northern Wyoming Community College DistrictSheridan, WY · Close peer43% grad $40,477 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA · Close peer50% grad $41,306 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Jamestown Community CollegeJamestown, NY · Close peer37% grad $38,242 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Indian Hills 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 Indian Hills Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note