C
Average
Score: 51/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
63/100 · earnings-weighted

Iowa Lakes Community College

2-Year Public
📍 Estherville, Iowa 51334
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (D) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 26%
Outcomes
D
42/100
Affordability
C+
64/100
Resources
B
65/100
Experience
B
70/100
Prestige
F
23/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

2,024
Total Enrollment
26%
Graduation Rate
58%
Retention Rate
14.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$10,523
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Iowa Lakes Community College ▼

17% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$147,014
Avg Monthly Rent
$864
1-Year Change
+14.3%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Iowa Lakes Community College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$43,108
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$37,209
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$12,000
Median debt at graduation
50%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
19.1%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 28% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 79th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Iowa Lakes Community College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$61,157$64,140-21%#950 of 962#935$20,426
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians$60,039$61,784-8%———
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians—$51,598-12%#147 of 176#134—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$31,966$40,957-7%#619 of 947#535$11,000
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians—$36,699-11%#108 of 124#99—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Iowa Lakes Community College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $147,014
  • Avg rent near campus: $864/mo — vs ~$350/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 51334 (4.6% cap, Estherville)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $6,464 $6,912
Room $3,150
Board $4,860
Total Cost (On-Campus) $21,118 $21,566

Financial Aid

89%
Receive Any Aid
41%
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Take Out Loans
$10,523
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$8,943
$30,001 - $48,000$8,858
$48,001 - $75,000$10,933
$75,001 - $110,000$13,397
$110,001+$13,429

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 163 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 22 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 14 grads/yr Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 13 grads/yr Agricultural Production Operations, General 12 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 12 grads/yr Electrician 11 grads/yr Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant 11 grads/yr Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician 9 grads/yr Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician 8 grads/yr Agricultural Power Machinery Operation 8 grads/yr Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage 8 grads/yr Commercial and Advertising Art 8 grads/yr Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling 7 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 6 grads/yr Electromechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 5 grads/yr Environmental Studies 5 grads/yr Accounting 5 grads/yr Computer Programming, Specific Applications 5 grads/yr Legal Assistant/Paralegal 4 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Iowa Lakes Community College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
$51k/yr 457,300 jobs
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
$47k/yr 38,900 jobs
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
$62k/yr 651,400 jobs
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
$88k/yr 836,100 jobs
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
$86k/yr 10,700 jobs

Student Demographics

2,024
Total Students
51%
Women
47%
Traditional Age (18-24)
17%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 74%
Hispanic 6%
Black 3%
Asian 1%
Two or More 1%
Non-Resident 4%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 44%
Off-Campus (Renters) 17%
With Family 39%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~346 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 67%
Hybrid (Some Online) 26%
Fully Online 7%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 47%
25-64 (Adult) 9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Iowa Lakes Community College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Iowa Lakes Community College?
Tuition at Iowa Lakes Community College is $6,464 for in-state students and $6,912 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $10,523.
What is the graduation rate at Iowa Lakes Community College?
The graduation rate at Iowa Lakes Community College is 26%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Iowa Lakes Community College a good school?
Iowa Lakes Community College has a Repit College Score of 51/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (D): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Iowa Lakes Community College?
Iowa Lakes Community College has a total enrollment of 2,024 students.
Is there rental demand near Iowa Lakes Community College?
Yes! Approximately 17% of students at Iowa Lakes Community College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 346 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Iowa Lakes Community College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology