Marshalltown Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 40% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,010 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,059 B+
- 53% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 788
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $29.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $903,556.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Marshalltown Community College Matters
Marshalltown Community College is a public community college in Marshalltown, 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
- 788
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Precision Production, Health Professions, Construction Trades
Why students choose Marshalltown 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 $8,059 a year after grants and scholarships — 53% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,010 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 35% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.28 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Marshalltown Community College serves a tight-knit community with an enrollment of just 788 students. This small size allows for personalized attention and a supportive learning environment, helping students navigate their academic journeys more effectively.
The college's data on earnings after ten years shows that graduates earn an average of $41,010. While the graduation rate stands at 40%, this figure reflects the challenges many students face. A considerable percentage, 22%, of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that financial aid plays a significant role in accessibility and support.
Students looking for an affordable education will find Marshalltown appealing, with a net price of $8,059 and a median debt of $9,500 upon graduation. Those who thrive here often pursue programs in humanities, construction trades, health professions, and business & marketing, aligning their studies with job market demand and potential earnings.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Marshalltown, Iowa, Marshalltown Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,992
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
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 Marshalltown Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Marshalltown Community College is $6,504, 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 $8,059. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,393 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,496
- Out-of-State
- $6,504
- Avg Net Price
- $8,059
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 11%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,393
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,482
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,797
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,686
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 Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Marshalltown Community College report median earnings of $41,010, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,574
- 8 Years
- $36,881
- 10 Years
- $41,010
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (77)
- 31%
- 100% (77)
- 31%
- 100% (77)
- 31%
- 100% (77)
- 31%
How Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Marshalltown Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,059/year ($32,236 total). Graduates earn $41,010 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $935,792 in total earnings — a net gain of $903,556 (29.0× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, 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)
- $32,236
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $935,792
- Net Return
- $903,556
- ROI Multiple
- 29.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,059
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- 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 Marshalltown Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Marshalltown 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 1.80%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.9% 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 15.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.80%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $93,068
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Marshalltown 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 30%
- Precision Production 22%
- Health Professions 16% $55,225 early-career
- Construction Trades 13%
- Business & Marketing 7%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5% $38,066 early-career
- Education 4%
- Computer Science & IT 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 Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Marshalltown, Iowa, Marshalltown Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Marshalltown Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Marshalltown Community College is $6,504, 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 $8,059. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,393 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Marshalltown Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Marshalltown Community College report median earnings of $41,010, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Marshalltown Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Marshalltown 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 1.80%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.9% 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 15.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Marshalltown Community College.
- University of South Carolina-SumterSumter, SC · Close peer38% grad $42,437 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Allen County Community CollegeIola, KS · Close peer38% grad $40,059 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northern Maine Community CollegePresque Isle, ME · Close peer38% grad $43,348 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sullivan County Community CollegeLoch Sheldrake, NY · Close peer28% grad $38,354 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Columbia-Greene Community CollegeHudson, NY · Close peer40% grad $44,441 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Oklahoma State CollegeAltus, OK · Close peer32% grad $38,248 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note