Iowa Western Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It enrolls 2,916 students (a mid-sized 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.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes33
Value40
Affordability28
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Iowa Western 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 Western 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 $14,629 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,629
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
20%
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)
$6,930
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,080
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,750
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,416
Books & Supplies
$1,290
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,353
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,353
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,978
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
$13,099
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,217
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,706
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,225
Over $110,000
$18,209
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.
$2,23310%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$11,033Medianpercentile
$13,50075%percentile
$23,50090%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 $8,750
↓ $2,283
No Pell $6,000
↓ $5,033
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,533
Independent students $10,498
↓ $535
Female students $8,750
↓ $2,283
Male students $6,500
↓ $4,533
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,033), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
26% of full-time students who enrolled at Iowa Western Community College graduate within six years, and 60% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
26%
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 Western Community College earn a median of $42,793 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,793
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$32,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$38,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,100, about 20% 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 ↑
18.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Iowa Western Community College is home to 2,916 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,916
Part-Time
37%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.2%1,697
Black 13.1%383
Hispanic 11.9%346
Other 6.5%190
International 5.5%160
Asian 1.5%44
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Iowa Western Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbCouncil Bluffs, Iowa
Housing
Mostly residential1,191 beds on campus
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Iowa Western Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
53 distinct programs across
25 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 Western Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,129
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$22M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$56,477
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
93 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
11
12%
$69,693
Associate Professors
6
6%
$62,959
Assistant Professors
44
47%
$59,028
Instructors
32
34%
$54,957
Pros & Cons of Iowa Western Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Iowa Western 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
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
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 Western Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iowa Western Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Iowa Western Community College.
Is Iowa Western Community College hard to get into?
Iowa Western Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Iowa Western Community College?
Iowa Western Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Iowa Western Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Iowa Western Community College is $14,629 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Iowa Western Community College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,793 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,629 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Iowa Western Community College known for?
Iowa Western Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Iowa Western Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Iowa Western Community College are $42,793, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Iowa Western Community College accredited?
Yes. Iowa Western Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Iowa Western Community College?
Iowa Western Community College enrolls 2,916 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa Western Community College?
Iowa Western Community College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Iowa Western Community College a public or private college?
Iowa Western Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Iowa Western Community College located?
Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
What programs does Iowa Western Community College offer?
Iowa Western Community College offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Iowa Western Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Iowa Western Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Iowa
Other colleges in Iowa share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Nursing
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
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