Iowa Lakes Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Estherville, Iowa. It enrolls 941 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes42
Value42
Affordability24
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Iowa Lakes Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Iowa Lakes Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,933 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,933
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,392
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,872
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,310
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,690
Books & Supplies
$1,090
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,338
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,338
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,120
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,420
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,764
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,097
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,461
Over $110,000
$17,325
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,96410%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$20,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,501
↓ $4,499
No Pell $5,500
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $6,500
Independent students $9,500
↓ $2,500
Female students $8,441
↓ $3,559
Male students $5,500
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
14% of full-time students who enrolled at Iowa Lakes Community College graduate within six years, and 60% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
60%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Iowa Lakes Community College earn a median of $43,108 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,108
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,500, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Iowa Lakes Community College is home to 941 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
941
Part-Time
30%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.8%694
International 8.1%76
Hispanic 7.8%73
Black 4.4%41
Other 2.5%24
Asian 1.6%15
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Iowa Lakes Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteEstherville, Iowa
Housing
Mostly residential507 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Iowa Lakes Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Iowa Lakes Community College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,453
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$8.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,263
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
66 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
27
41%
$64,804
Associate Professors
8
12%
$53,387
Assistant Professors
22
33%
$52,476
Instructors
9
14%
$49,790
Pros & Cons of Iowa Lakes Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Iowa Lakes Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Iowa Lakes Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iowa Lakes Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Iowa Lakes Community College.
Is Iowa Lakes Community College hard to get into?
Iowa Lakes Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa Lakes Community College?
Iowa Lakes Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Iowa Lakes Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Iowa Lakes Community College is $13,933 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Iowa Lakes Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,108 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,933 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Iowa Lakes Community College known for?
Iowa Lakes Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Iowa Lakes Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Iowa Lakes Community College are $43,108, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Iowa Lakes Community College accredited?
Yes. Iowa Lakes Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Iowa Lakes Community College?
Iowa Lakes Community College enrolls 941 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa Lakes Community College?
Iowa Lakes Community College graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Iowa Lakes Community College a public or private college?
Iowa Lakes Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Iowa Lakes Community College located?
Iowa Lakes Community College is located in Estherville, Iowa.
What programs does Iowa Lakes Community College offer?
Iowa Lakes Community College offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Iowa Lakes Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Iowa Lakes Community College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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