Southwestern Community College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Southwestern Community College is a public community college in Creston, Iowa, enrolling about 729 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $9,871 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $8,064. Student demographics in federal data include White (80.4%) and Hispanic or Latino (7.5%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,064
- 2024 Average Net Price: $9,871 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 729 73.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 59.30%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 38.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 10.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 42.1%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,993
- Room & Board: $8,910 annual estimate
Southwestern Community College: what the data shows
Common questions about Southwestern Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College is located in Creston, IA (ZIP 50801).
NCES locale classification: Town remote.
Is Southwestern Community College public or private?
Southwestern Community College is a Public institution.
How much does Southwestern Community College cost?
Published tuition: $8,064 in-state, $8,316 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $9,871.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,137 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,440 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,118 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,444 |
| $110,001+ | $14,449 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $32,256.
How big is Southwestern Community College?
Total enrollment: 729 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,993 students.
About 73% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Community College?
150%-time completion rate: 59.30%.
First-year retention: 68.3%.
What do graduates of Southwestern Community College earn?
Median earnings: $36,878 six years after entry; $40,129 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $10,975.
23.76% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Southwestern Community College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (128 completions)
- Electrician (49 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (41 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (40 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (33 completions)
- Carpentry/Carpenter (30 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (26 completions)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (26 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (21 completions)
- Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician (16 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Southwestern Community College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 59.30%; median earnings $40,129 at 10 years; net price $9,871. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$8,064
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Southwestern Community College was $8,064.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$9,871
2024 Value
In 2024 Southwestern Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,871.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,484 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$9,871 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$32,256 4-Year In-State Tuition
$33,264 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$8,910 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,386 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$18,360 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$73,440 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Southwestern Community College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
23.76% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
21.56% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Southwestern Community College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Southwestern Community College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,650 | $4,860 | $7,316 |
| 2014 | $4,800 | $5,010 | $8,347 |
| 2015 | $5,360 | $5,460 | $7,694 |
| 2016 | $5,490 | $5,700 | $8,014 |
| 2017 | $5,664 | $5,888 | $8,894 |
| 2018 | $5,888 | $6,112 | $9,134 |
| 2019 | $6,112 | $6,336 | $9,013 |
| 2020 | $6,336 | $6,560 | $10,164 |
| 2021 | $6,560 | $6,784 | $10,667 |
| 2022 | $6,784 | $7,008 | $8,872 |
| 2023 | $7,024 | $7,248 | $9,775 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Southwestern Community College reported total enrollment of about 729 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 37% male and 63% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (80.4%), Hispanic or Latino (7.5%), and Black or African American (4.7%). About 23.76% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 38.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
73.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Southwestern Community College in 2024 is 729 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,993 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
68.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 80.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
55.81% 100% Completion Time
59.30% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 55.81% of students graduating from Southwestern Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 42% male / 58% female
- Electrician: 96% male / 4% female
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 2% male / 98% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Southwestern Community College.
Return on Investment
$10,975 Median Student Debt
$40,129 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
27.35% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
916.34% Return on Investment
2.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Southwestern Community College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 28 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 128 completions
2. Electrician: 49 completions
3. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 41 completions
4. Welding Technology/Welder: 40 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 33 completions
6. Carpentry/Carpenter: 30 completions
7. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 26 completions
8. Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 26 completions
9. Business Administration and Management, General: 21 completions
Most popular programs at Southwestern Community College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Southwestern Community College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Southwestern Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 42.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,608
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,934
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Southwestern Community College is a public institution located in Creston, IA, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Electrician, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. Enrollment is approximately 729 students. Student body composition includes White (80.4%), Hispanic or Latino (7.5%), Black or African American (4.7%). The 150%-time completion rate is 59.30%. Approximately 23.76% of students receive Pell Grants. About 38.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
Creston, IA 50801
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Southwestern Community College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Southwestern Community College located?
Southwestern Community College is located in Creston, IA.
How much does Southwestern Community College cost?
Reported tuition is $8,064 and average net price is $9,871 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,910 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,993 students, White (80.4%), Hispanic or Latino (7.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Southwestern Community College?
About 38.6% of students at Southwestern Community College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Southwestern Community College earn?
Median earnings are $36,878 six years after entry and $40,129 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Southwestern Community College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 59.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Southwestern Community College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $10,975.
Is Southwestern Community College public or private?
Southwestern Community College is a public institution located in Creston, IA.
Is Southwestern Community College an HBCU?
No. Southwestern Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Southwestern Community College a tribal college?
No. Southwestern Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Southwestern Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Southwestern Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 7.5%).
Is Southwestern Community College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Southwestern Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Iowa college costs
- Iowa colleges by ROI
- Iowa trade schools profile
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Iowa
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.