Southwestern Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Creston, Iowa. It enrolls 729 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
Outcomes67
Value56
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Southwestern 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 Southwestern 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 $9,871 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,871
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
22%
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)
$8,064
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,316
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,910
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,910
Books & Supplies
$1,386
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,802
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,439
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,951
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
$7,137
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,440
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,118
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,444
Over $110,000
$14,449
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$10,975Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$19,00090%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 $8,873
↓ $2,102
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,475
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,475
Independent students $9,500
↓ $1,475
Female students $8,750
↓ $2,225
Male students $5,500
↓ $5,475
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,975), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Southwestern Community College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southwestern Community College earn a median of $40,129 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,129
Earning > $25K
68%
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
$32,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,500, about 15% 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 ↑
15.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southwestern Community College is home to 729 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
729
Part-Time
27%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.4%586
Hispanic 7.5%55
Black 4.7%34
International 3.8%28
Other 2.3%17
Asian 0.6%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southwestern Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteCreston, Iowa
Housing
Partly residential243 beds available
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southwestern Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
15 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 Southwestern Community College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,503
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,564
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
39 instructional faculty across 1 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
39
100%
$50,564
Pros & Cons of Southwestern Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southwestern Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Southwestern Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southwestern Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southwestern Community College.
Is Southwestern Community College hard to get into?
Southwestern Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southwestern Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Southwestern Community College is $9,871 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southwestern Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,129 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,871 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southwestern Community College known for?
Southwestern Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southwestern Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southwestern Community College are $40,129, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southwestern Community College accredited?
Yes. Southwestern Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College enrolls 729 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southwestern Community College a public or private college?
Southwestern Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Southwestern Community College located?
Southwestern Community College is located in Creston, Iowa.
What programs does Southwestern Community College offer?
Southwestern Community College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southwestern Community College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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