Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) vs Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)

Iowa Western Community College and Des Moines Area Community College, both esteemed institutions in Iowa, offer diverse educational opportunities to students seeking higher education. While they share the common goal of providing quality education, they differ in several aspects. Iowa Western boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. Des Moines Area, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating its commitment to student success. Both colleges offer a wide range of programs, with Iowa Western excelling in the Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences field, while Des Moines Area shines in the Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services domain. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two prominent community colleges and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and goals.
Des Moines Area Community College logo

Des Moines Area Community College

Iowa Western Community College logo

Iowa Western Community College

Overview

Location Ankeny, Iowa Council Bluffs, Iowa
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 58.0% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $17,740

Out of state: $22,960
In state: $20,045

Out of state: $20,195
Average net price $9,667 $11,403
Tuition
In state: $5,220

Out of state: $10,440
In state: $5,820

Out of state: $5,970
Room & board $8,750
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

58.0%
Average amount $4,623
89.0%
Average amount $5,295
Students receiving federal student loan 30.0%
Average amount $4,431
72.0%
Average amount $5,691
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $5,893
2.0%
Average amount $6,794

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 20,536
Men 43.0% Women 57.0%
5,684
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 43.1%
International students 0.3% 1.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 224 1,248
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Iowa Nebraska Missouri Minnesota Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Automotive Technology
  • Precision Production
  • Engineering Technologies
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 31.7% 29.2%
Dropout rate 43.5% 53.5%
Transferred out 15.2% 12.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,384
  • Year 3: $56,857
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,133
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $55,632
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,091
  • Year 3: $53,585
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,865
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $52,994
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,457
  • Year 2: $51,750
  • Year 3: $52,825
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,813
  • Year 2: $44,244
  • Year 3: $51,582
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,281
  • Year 3: $50,394
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $48,409
  • Year 2: $46,790
  • Year 3: $43,476
Agricultural Business and Management (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,335
  • Year 2: $39,909
  • Year 3: $42,826
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,970
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $36,221
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,371
  • Year 2: $52,822
  • Year 3: $54,872
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,259
  • Year 2: $49,883
  • Year 3: $53,422
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,886
  • Year 2: $36,132
  • Year 3: $48,318
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,416
  • Year 3: $48,008
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,504
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $33,681
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,448
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $32,414
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,250
  • Year 2: $26,536
  • Year 3: $30,117
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,719
  • Year 3: N/A
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,176
  • Year 2: $41,937
  • Year 3: N/A

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