Iowa Western Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 40% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,793 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,629 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 2,916
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,014,455.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $18.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Iowa Western Community College Matters
Iowa Western Community College is a public community college in Council Bluffs, 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
- 2,916
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Iowa Western 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 $14,629 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,793 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $11,033 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 81% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.37 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 2,916 students choose Iowa Western Community College each year, drawn by its focus on career-oriented education in fields like Health Professions and Business. With a graduation rate of 40%, students can expect to enter the workforce with practical skills and certifications.
Data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights indicates that Iowa Western Community College graduates earn a median salary of $42,793 a decade post-graduation. While specific mobility rates are not available, the college supports a diverse student body, including a 24% Pell Grant rate, emphasizing its role in making education accessible for students from lower-income backgrounds.
The net price for attending Iowa Western is $14,629, with a median debt of $11,033. This financial structure allows students to pursue academic and vocational training without overwhelming debt. Graduates who thrive here often have clear career goals and are focused on gaining skills that translate directly into job opportunities.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Iowa Western 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 Western Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Iowa Western Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,700
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
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 Western Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Iowa Western Community College is $7,080, 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 $14,629. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,099 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,033 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,930
- Out-of-State
- $7,080
- Avg Net Price
- $14,629
- Median Debt
- $11,033
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,099
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,217
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,706
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,209
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 Western 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 Western Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Iowa Western Community College report median earnings of $42,793, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,628
- 8 Years
- $38,860
- 10 Years
- $42,793
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (180)
- 21%
- 100% (180)
- 21%
- 100% (180)
- 21%
- 100% (180)
- 21%
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 Western Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Iowa Western Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,629/year ($58,516 total). Graduates earn $42,793 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,072,971 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,014,455 (18.3× your investment). The median debt is $11,033, 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)
- $58,516
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,072,971
- Net Return
- $1,014,455
- ROI Multiple
- 18.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,629
- Median Debt
- $11,033
- 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 Iowa Western Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Iowa Western 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 0.94%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.3% 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 9.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.94%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $91,165
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $121,621
Top Programs
The fields Iowa Western 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 23% $59,271 early-career
- Humanities 19%
- Business & Marketing 12% $32,432 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 10% $42,932 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Precision Production 6%
- Construction Trades 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2% $29,935 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 Iowa Western 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 Iowa Western Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Iowa Western Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Iowa Western Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Iowa Western Community College is $7,080, 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 $14,629. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,099 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,033 in federal student loans.
Is Iowa Western Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Iowa Western Community College report median earnings of $42,793, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Iowa Western Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Iowa Western 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 0.94%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.3% 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 9.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Iowa Western 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 Western Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), 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 Western Community College.
- Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · Close peer47% grad $45,591 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA · Close peer38% grad $42,849 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lake Superior CollegeDuluth, MN · Close peer40% grad $46,449 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester, MN · Close peer27% grad $45,287 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Finger Lakes Community CollegeCanandaigua, NY · Close peer29% grad $40,054 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA · Close peer43% grad $42,046 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Iowa Western 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 Western Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), 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