North Iowa Area Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Mason City, Iowa. It enrolls 1,320 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
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes65
Value59
Affordability36
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area 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 $10,010 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,010
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)
$6,653
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,551
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,000
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,758
Books & Supplies
$1,830
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,042
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,410
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,040
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
$8,471
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,723
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,644
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,376
Over $110,000
$13,705
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$9,500Medianpercentile
$10,09675%percentile
$15,50090%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 $6,246
↓ $3,254
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,000
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,000
Independent students $7,771
↓ $1,729
Female students $6,500
↓ $3,000
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
35% of full-time students who enrolled at North Iowa Area Community College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
35%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
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 North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $43,462 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,462
Earning > $25K
72%
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
$33,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,200
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)
$45,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,200, about 22% 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 ↑
18.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
North Iowa Area Community College is home to 1,320 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,320
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.7%999
Hispanic 9.2%121
Black 5.3%70
International 4.5%59
Other 4.1%54
Asian 0.8%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at North Iowa Area Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeMason City, Iowa
Housing
Partly residential400 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
North Iowa Area Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
16 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 North Iowa Area Community College is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,148
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$37M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,345
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
65 instructional faculty across 3 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
Instructors
1
2%
$70,465
Lecturers
62
95%
$67,205
No Rank
2
3%
$70,115
Pros & Cons of North Iowa Area Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Iowa Area 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
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
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, North Iowa Area 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 North Iowa Area Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Iowa Area Community College.
Is North Iowa Area Community College hard to get into?
North Iowa Area Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at North Iowa Area Community College?
North Iowa Area Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does North Iowa Area Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at North Iowa Area Community College is $10,010 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Iowa Area Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,462 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,010 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Iowa Area Community College known for?
North Iowa Area Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Iowa Area Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Iowa Area Community College are $43,462, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Iowa Area Community College accredited?
Yes. North Iowa Area Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend North Iowa Area Community College?
North Iowa Area Community College enrolls 1,320 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Iowa Area Community College?
North Iowa Area Community College graduates 35% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Iowa Area Community College a public or private college?
North Iowa Area Community College is a Public institution.
Where is North Iowa Area Community College located?
North Iowa Area Community College is located in Mason City, Iowa.
What programs does North Iowa Area Community College offer?
North Iowa Area Community College offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Iowa Area Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Iowa Area Community College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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