Iowa Lakes Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,108 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $13,933 C+
- 19% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 941
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $18.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $971,571.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 36% — 37% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $18.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Iowa Lakes Community College Matters
Iowa Lakes Community College is a public community college in Estherville, 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
- 941
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Iowa Lakes 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 $13,933 a year after grants and scholarships — 19% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,108 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 78% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.24 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Iowa Lakes Community College has a median earnings figure of $43,108 for graduates ten years after enrollment. This number reflects the potential return on investment for students who choose to attend this institution.
The college serves a diverse student body of 941, with a graduation rate of 36%. Although specific mobility rates are not available, the college's focus on practical programs in fields like Health Professions and Business & Marketing can support upward mobility for students. Many graduates are likely to find stable employment in industries with growing demand.
Students at Iowa Lakes Community College face a net price of $13,933, with a median debt of $12,000 upon graduation. This financial structure allows for a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio, making it an appealing option for students seeking career-focused education without excessive financial burden. Ideal candidates for Iowa Lakes are those looking for hands-on training in practical fields and a supportive environment that encourages growth.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Lakes Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Estherville, Iowa, Iowa Lakes Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,414
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.44
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
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 Iowa Lakes Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Iowa Lakes Community College is $7,872, 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 $13,933. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,420 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,392
- Out-of-State
- $7,872
- Avg Net Price
- $13,933
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 18%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,420
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,764
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,097
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,325
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 Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Lakes Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Iowa Lakes Community College report median earnings of $43,108, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,209
- 8 Years
- $41,398
- 10 Years
- $43,108
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 58%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (175)
- 48%
- 100% (175)
- 48%
- 100% (175)
- 48%
- 100% (175)
- 48%
How Iowa 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 Iowa Lakes Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Iowa Lakes Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,933/year ($55,732 total). Graduates earn $43,108 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,027,303 in total earnings — a net gain of $971,571 (18.4× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $55,732
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,027,303
- Net Return
- $971,571
- ROI Multiple
- 18.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,933
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
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 Iowa Lakes Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Iowa Lakes 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 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.7% 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 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $55,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.97%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $74,997
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $8,220,217
- Federal Grants
- $1,720,450
- Investment Income
- $55,683
Top Programs
The fields Iowa Lakes 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 33%
- Health Professions 12% $55,689 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 9% $40,390 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $23,930 early-career
- Construction Trades 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Precision Production 2%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
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 Iowa Lakes 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Iowa Lakes Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Estherville, Iowa, Iowa Lakes Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Iowa Lakes Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Iowa Lakes Community College is $7,872, 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 $13,933. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,420 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Iowa Lakes Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Iowa Lakes Community College report median earnings of $43,108, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Iowa Lakes Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Iowa Lakes 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 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.7% 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 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $55,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Lakes Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.24, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Iowa Lakes Community College.
- Great Bay Community CollegePortsmouth, NH · Close peer32% grad $42,397 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Herkimer County Community CollegeHerkimer, NY · Close peer31% grad $39,199 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Salem Community CollegeCarneys Point, NJ · Close peer39% grad $38,020 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Blue Mountain Community CollegePendleton, OR · Close peer27% grad $38,375 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Allen County Community CollegeIola, KS · Close peer38% grad $40,059 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Lakes College-BrainerdBrainerd, MN · Close peer51% grad $42,162 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Iowa Lakes 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 Iowa Lakes Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.24, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note