Best Community Colleges in Iowa 2024

BEST IN IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Iowa offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in Iowa

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  1. Iowa Central Community College
  2. Kirkwood Community College
  3. Des Moines Area Community College
  4. Ellsworth Community College
  5. Southeastern Community College
  6. Indian Hills Community College
  7. Hawkeye Community College
  8. Iowa Western Community College
  9. Northeast Iowa Community College
  10. Western Iowa Tech Community College
    1. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 25 to 1
    2. North Iowa Area Community College 22 to 1
    3. Des Moines Area Community College 20 to 1
    4. Iowa Western Community College 18 to 1
    5. Kirkwood Community College 18 to 1
    6. Hawkeye Community College 17 to 1
    7. Marshalltown Community College 17 to 1
    8. Iowa Central Community College 17 to 1
    9. Western Iowa Tech Community College 16 to 1
    10. Ellsworth Community College 16 to 1
    1. Southeastern Community College $5,880
    2. Iowa Western Community College $5,820
    3. Hawkeye Community College $5,818
    4. Southwestern Community College $5,670
    5. Northwest Iowa Community College $5,490
    6. Northeast Iowa Community College $5,400
    7. Iowa Central Community College $5,280
    8. Des Moines Area Community College $5,220
    9. Kirkwood Community College $5,208
    10. North Iowa Area Community College $5,153
      1. Northwest Iowa Community College
      2. Marshalltown Community College
      3. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
      4. North Iowa Area Community College
      5. Southwestern Community College
      6. Western Iowa Tech Community College
      7. Northeast Iowa Community College
      8. Iowa Western Community College
      9. Hawkeye Community College
      10. Indian Hills Community College
        1. Northeast Iowa Community College 12 to 1
        2. Northwest Iowa Community College 13 to 1
        3. Southwestern Community College 14 to 1
        4. Indian Hills Community College 14 to 1
        5. Southeastern Community College 15 to 1
        6. Western Iowa Tech Community College 16 to 1
        7. Ellsworth Community College 16 to 1
        8. Hawkeye Community College 17 to 1
        9. Marshalltown Community College 17 to 1
        10. Iowa Central Community College 17 to 1
        1. Western Iowa Tech Community College $3,912
        2. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges $4,396
        3. Marshalltown Community College $4,416
        4. Ellsworth Community College $4,416
        5. Indian Hills Community College $4,560
        6. North Iowa Area Community College $5,153
        7. Kirkwood Community College $5,208
        8. Des Moines Area Community College $5,220
        9. Iowa Central Community College $5,280
        10. Northeast Iowa Community College $5,400

          Colleges and Universities in Iowa

          With a large number of both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Iowa, students have plenty of great schools to choose from.

          Iowa’s largest public university, Iowa State University, serves over 30,000 students and offers extra flexibility for both undergraduate and graduate students through a selection of online degree programs in more than 50 academic fields including business administration, psychology, computer science, and more.

          The University of Iowa-home of the Hawkeyes-is also home to some of the nation’s top programs in literature, philosophy, and law. The University of Iowa has also been at the forefront of higher education, starting the nation’s first co-educational medical school, as well as being the first public school to grant a law degree to a woman, Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, in 1873.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          For prospective students hoping to obtain their degrees at a smaller school, Iowa offers over 40 options to choose from. For a more affordable option, students can pay $4,000 per year for tuition at Indian Hills Community College. Like most community colleges in Georgia, Indian Hills also offers an array of online programs.

          At the other end of the spectrum, students will pay up to $52,000 for an academic year at Grinnell College. Furthermore, nearly half of the schools in Iowa are religiously affiliated.

          Iowa is often recognized for its agriculture as it produces the most pork and corn in the nation. Equally noteworthy is Iowa’s wealth of one-of-a-kind roadside attractions. From the largest wooden nickel, to the crookedest street, to the Grotto of Redemption, The Hawkeye State is full of wonders. Students in search of curiosities and oddities while earning a degree can attend one of Iowa’s public or private colleges.

          Whether you’re looking to earn your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Iowa offers a wealth of on-campus and online learning options. Discover more about Iowa’s top brick-and-mortar and online programs as well as top career paths in the state of Iowa.


          What are Iowa’s Colleges & Universities?

          Iowa’s Best Overall

          Iowa's Best Community Colleges Badge
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          We’ve identified 15 community colleges in Iowa. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Iowa.

          If you’re interested in an online associate degree, visit our best online associate degrees in Iowa page.

          Best Community Colleges in Iowa

          1. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            41%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at Indian Hills Community College

            Cost of Degree: $4,560
            Expenses: $9,966
            Starting Salary: $47,575
            Salary after 4 years: $51,409
            Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Indian Hills Community College known for?

            Indian Hills Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2. #2

            Kirkwood Community College

            Cedar Rapids , IA

            Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            37%

            Student body

            8K

            Career Outlook for degree at Kirkwood Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,308
            Starting Salary: $38,336
            Salary after 4 years: $43,589
            What is Kirkwood Community College known for?

            Kirkwood Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          3. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            13K

            Career Outlook for degree at Des Moines Area Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,220
            Expenses: $10,428
            Starting Salary: $40,213
            Salary after 4 years: $43,946
            Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Des Moines Area Community College known for?

            Des Moines Area Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          4. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            38%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Iowa Central Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,000
            Expenses: $11,940
            Starting Salary: $37,642
            Salary after 4 years: $46,741
            Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Iowa Central Community College known for?

            Iowa Central Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          5. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            47%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at Northeast Iowa Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,120
            Starting Salary: $38,281
            Salary after 4 years: $42,167
            What is Northeast Iowa Community College known for?

            Northeast Iowa Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          6. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            28%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Hawkeye Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,977
            Starting Salary: $38,282
            Salary after 4 years: $40,630
            What is Hawkeye Community College known for?

            Hawkeye Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          7. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            36%

            Student body

            <1K

            Career Outlook for degree at Ellsworth Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,040
            Expenses: $13,500
            Starting Salary: $20,319
            Salary after 4 years: $48,792
            Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Ellsworth Community College known for?

            Ellsworth Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          8. #8

            Iowa Western Community College

            Council Bluffs , IA

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            4K

            Career Outlook for degree at Iowa Western Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,330
            Expenses: $14,057
            Starting Salary: $39,927
            Salary after 4 years: $47,795
            Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Iowa Western Community College known for?

            Iowa Western Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          9. #9

            Southeastern Community College

            West Burlington , IA

            Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            35%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at Southeastern Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,090
            Expenses: $14,234
            Starting Salary: $40,531
            Salary after 4 years: $42,585
            Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Southeastern Community College known for?

            Southeastern Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          10. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            47%

            Student body

            1K

            Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,060
            Expenses: $11,529
            Starting Salary: $39,704
            Salary after 4 years: $43,676
            Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Southwestern Community College known for?

            Southwestern Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          11. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            55%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at North Iowa Area Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,971
            Expenses: $11,064
            Starting Salary: $39,499
            Salary after 4 years: $43,590
            Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is North Iowa Area Community College known for?

            North Iowa Area Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          12. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            38%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College

            Cost of Degree: $4,802
            Expenses: $12,425
            Starting Salary: $33,320
            Salary after 4 years: $39,566
            Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Western Iowa Tech Community College known for?

            Western Iowa Tech Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          13. #13

            Marshalltown Community College

            Marshalltown , IA

            Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            39%

            Student body

            1K

            Career Outlook for degree at Marshalltown Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,040
            Expenses: $12,761
            Starting Salary: $47,493
            Salary after 4 years: $48,013
            Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Marshalltown Community College known for?

            Marshalltown Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          14. Tuition + fees

            $4K

            Graduation

            40%

            Student body

            4K

            Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

            Cost of Degree: $4,396
            Expenses: $12,094
            Starting Salary: $36,357
            Salary after 4 years: $42,133
            Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Eastern Iowa Community Colleges known for?

            Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          15. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            62%

            Student body

            1K

            Career Outlook for degree at Northwest Iowa Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,540
            Expenses: $12,710
            Starting Salary: $51,851
            Salary after 4 years: $59,461
            Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
            Paid back at 15% of annual salary
            What is Northwest Iowa Community College known for?

            Northwest Iowa Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          2021 Ranking Archive

          Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

          1. Indian Hills Community College
          2. Northeast Iowa Community College
          3. Southwestern Community College
          4. Kirkwood Community College
          5. Southeastern Community College
          6. Ellsworth Community College
          7. Des Moines Area Community College
          8. Iowa Central Community College
          9. Western Iowa Tech Community College
          10. Hawkeye Community College
          11. Marshalltown Community College
          12. North Iowa Area Community College
          13. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
          14. Northwest Iowa Community College
          15. Iowa Western Community College
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