C+
Above Average
Score: 54/100
Overall (traditional)
B+
Outcome Rating
74/100 · earnings-weighted

Southwestern Community College

2-Year Public
📍 Creston, Iowa 50801
Outcomes
C+
61/100
Affordability
C+
63/100
Resources
C+
59/100
Experience
C+
60/100
Prestige
F
26/100

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

1,633
Total Enrollment
53%
Graduation Rate
74%
Retention Rate
16.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$10,809
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Southwestern 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
$156,896
Avg Monthly Rent
$828
1-Year Change
+6.8%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

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

$40,129
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$36,878
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$10,975
Median debt at graduation
59.3%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
23.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 27% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 83rd percentile among certificate-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 Southwestern 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$63,505$74,624-8%#739 of 962#690$12,676
Business Administration, Management and Operations—$45,710-6%#350 of 547#298—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$28,706$41,170-7%#601 of 947#519$9,913

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 Southwestern Community College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $156,896
  • Avg rent near campus: $828/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 50851 (4.3% cap, Lenox)

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🏆 Where Southwestern Community College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#24
Carpentry/Carpenter
of 52 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $6,120 $6,330
Total Cost (On-Campus) $18,072 $18,296

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
43%
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Take Out Loans
$10,809
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$8,336
$30,001 - $48,000$6,869
$48,001 - $75,000$10,386
$75,001 - $110,000$12,278
$110,001+$12,884

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 128 grads/yr Electrician 49 grads/yr Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 41 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 40 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 33 grads/yr Carpentry/Carpenter 30 grads/yr Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 26 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 26 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 21 grads/yr Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician 16 grads/yr Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician 12 grads/yr Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications 11 grads/yr Psychology, General 9 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 8 grads/yr Music, General 7 grads/yr Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 6 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 6 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 3 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 2 grads/yr Accounting 2 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

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

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Signal and track switch repairers
$84k/yr 8,700 jobs
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$79k/yr 921,600 jobs
Electricians
$62k/yr 818,700 jobs
Security and fire alarm systems installers
$59k/yr 85,900 jobs
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
$62k/yr 651,400 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

Student Demographics

1,633
Total Students
59%
Women
45%
Traditional Age (18-24)
17%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 85%
Hispanic 6%
Black 3%
Asian 1%
Two or More 2%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 47%
Off-Campus (Renters) 17%
With Family 36%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~279 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 36%
Hybrid (Some Online) 23%
Fully Online 41%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 45%
25-64 (Adult) 14%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College?
Tuition at Southwestern Community College is $6,120 for in-state students and $6,330 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $10,809.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Community College?
The graduation rate at Southwestern Community College is 53%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Southwestern Community College a good school?
Southwestern Community College has a Repit College Score of 54/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (C+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College has a total enrollment of 1,633 students.
Is there rental demand near Southwestern Community College?
Yes! Approximately 17% of students at Southwestern Community College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 279 students who need rental housing near campus.

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

🎓 Similar Colleges to Southwestern Community College

Compare with other 2-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, IA · 3,236 students
C
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, IA · 2,562 students
C+
North Iowa Area Community College
Mason City, IA · 2,471 students
C
Northwest Iowa Community College
Sheldon, IA · 1,792 students
C
Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, IA · 2,024 students
C
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar, IA · 4,378 students

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