Northwest Iowa Community College Photo - NCC's Automotive and Diesel lab areas recently underwent a complete renovation.

Best Iowa Community Colleges (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 39 community colleges serving 91,540 students in Iowa (17 public colleges and 22 private colleges).
The average tuition for community colleges in Iowa is approximately $4,331 per year for in-state students and $4,920 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $17,086 per year (view national tuition costs).
The average community college acceptance rate in Iowa is 75% (compared to national acceptance rates).
Minority enrollment is 32%, with the majority being Hispanic or Black and the student-teacher ratio is 30:1.

Top-Ranked Iowa Community Colleges (2026)

College
Location
Quick Facts
La James International College-Ft Dodge
Private for-profit
2419 5th Avenue South
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
(515) 576-3119
Enrollment: 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Aveda Institute-Des Moines
Private for-profit
6905 Mills Civic Pkwy Suite 120
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(513) 576-9333
Enrollment: 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Capri College-Cedar Rapids
Private for-profit
2945 Williams Parkway S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 364-1541
Enrollment: 129 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Capri College-Davenport
Private for-profit
2540 E. 53rd Street
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 388-6642
Enrollment: 135 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Capri College-Dubuque
Private for-profit
395 Main St
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 588-2379
Enrollment: 165 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake
Private for-profit
1543 18th Street
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
(712) 336-0512
Enrollment: 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines
Private, for profit
3305 70th St
Des Moines, IA 50322
(515) 318-5133
Enrollment: 48 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
Private for-profit
24 Second St NE
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 424-2161
Enrollment: 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
La James International College-Cedar Falls
Private for-profit
6322 University Ave
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 277-2150
Enrollment: 54 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
La James International College-Davenport
Private for-profit
5205 North Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52806
(563) 441-7900
Enrollment: 127 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
La James International College-Johnston
Private for-profit
8805 Chambery Blvd
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-2208
Enrollment: 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
PCI Academy-Ames
Private for-profit
309 Kitty Hawk Dr.
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 337-2907
Enrollment: 176 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
4655 North West 121 Street
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 727-2100
Enrollment: 760 students Student-teacher ratio: 40:1 Acceptance rate: 54% In-state tuition: $15,352 Out-state tuition: $15,352 Minority enrollment: 51%
SOHO Hair Academy
Private for-profit
2600 South 9th St
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-2613
Enrollment: 66 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
American Hair Academy
Private for-profit
304 South Iris
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 219-6248
Enrollment: 25 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Des Moines Area Community College
Des Moines Area Community College Photo - DMACC- Boone Campus
Public
2006 Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 964-6200
Enrollment: 23,697 students Student-teacher ratio: 41:1 In-state tuition: $156 Out-state tuition: $312 Minority enrollment: 33%
101 W Third Street
Davenport, IA 52801
(563) 336-3300
Enrollment: 7,426 students Student-teacher ratio: 36:1 Acceptance rate: 57% In-state tuition: $4,200 Out-state tuition: $4,680 Minority enrollment: 30%
Ellsworth Community College
Public
1100 College Ave
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
(800) 322-9235
Enrollment: 685 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 In-state tuition: $4,296 Out-state tuition: $5,064 Minority enrollment: 31%
Hawkeye Community College
Public
1501 E Orange Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 296-2320
Enrollment: 5,120 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 In-state tuition: $159 Out-state tuition: $176 Minority enrollment: 23%
Indian Hills Community College
Public
525 Grandview Ave
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 683-5111
Enrollment: 3,184 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 In-state tuition: $3,720 Out-state tuition: $5,580 Minority enrollment: 24%
Iowa Central Community College
Public
One Triton Circle
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
(515) 576-7201
Enrollment: 4,949 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Acceptance rate: 81% In-state tuition: $4,710 Out-state tuition: $6,855 Minority enrollment: 43%
Iowa Lakes Community College
Public
19 S 7th St
Estherville, IA 51334
(712) 362-2601
Enrollment: 1,945 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 In-state tuition: $5,516 Out-state tuition: $5,868 Minority enrollment: 30%
Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City
Private for-profit
3320 Line Drive
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 274-9733
Enrollment: 67 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Acceptance rate: 100% Minority enrollment: 69%
Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Western Community College Photo
Public
2700 College Rd
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 325-3200
Enrollment: 5,540 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 In-state tuition: $4,560 Out-state tuition: $4,710 Minority enrollment: 39%
Kirkwood Community College
Public
6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
(319) 398-5411
Enrollment: 12,763 students Student-teacher ratio: 33:1 In-state tuition: $4,060 Out-state tuition: $4,900 Minority enrollment: 31%
Marshalltown Community College
Public
3700 S Center St
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 752-7106
Enrollment: 1,857 students Student-teacher ratio: 35:1 In-state tuition: $4,296 Out-state tuition: $4,536 Minority enrollment: 43%
Mercy-St Luke's School Of Radiologic Technology
Private not-for-profit
1026 A Ave NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319) 369-7097
Enrollment: 21 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
North Iowa Area Community College
Public
500 College Dr
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 423-1264
Enrollment: 2,662 students Student-teacher ratio: 36:1 In-state tuition: $4,703 Out-state tuition: $6,664 Minority enrollment: 18%
Northeast Iowa Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College Photo - Calmar Campus Student Center
Public
1625 Hwy 150
Calmar, IA 52132
(844) 642-2338
Enrollment: 4,808 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 In-state tuition: $2,910 Out-state tuition: $3,210 Minority enrollment: 12%
Northwest Iowa Community College
Northwest Iowa Community College Photo
Public
603 W Park St
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-5061
Enrollment: 1,907 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 In-state tuition: $5,460 Out-state tuition: $5,850 Minority enrollment: 21%
PCI Academy-Iowa City
Private for-profit
1550 South 1st Avenue
Iowa City, IA 52240
(515) 337-2907
Enrollment: 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Ross College-Davenport
Private for-profit
1801 East Kimberly Road, Suite B
Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 344-1500
Enrollment: 42 students Student-teacher ratio: 42:1 Private-state tuition: $12,123 Minority enrollment: 87%
St Luke's College
Private not-for-profit
2720 Stone Park Blvd
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 279-3149
Enrollment: 176 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Acceptance rate: 80% Private-state tuition: $18,820 Minority enrollment: 32%
The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls
Private for-profit
1350 College Square Mall
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 260-9995
Enrollment: 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Southeastern Community College
Public
1500 West Agency Road
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-2731
Enrollment: 3,028 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 In-state tuition: $4,590 Out-state tuition: $4,740 Minority enrollment: 31%
Show 4 more community colleges in Iowa (out of 39 total colleges)
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[+] Show Closed Community Colleges in Iowa

Community Colleges in Iowa (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
2500 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 244-4221
Enrollment: 1,014 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Acceptance rate: 59% Private-state tuition: $15,666 Minority enrollment: 25%
1860 NW 118th St, Ste 110
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 327-5500
Enrollment: 147 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Acceptance rate: 93% Private-state tuition: $18,048 Minority enrollment: 10%
3165 Edgewood Parkway SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 363-0481
Enrollment: 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 32:1 In-state tuition: $15,352 Out-state tuition: $15,352 Minority enrollment: 34%
1801 East Kimberly Road, Suite 1
Davenport, IA 52807
(866) 527-5268
Enrollment: 30,512 students Student-teacher ratio: 29:1 In-state tuition: $13,956 Out-state tuition: $13,956 Minority enrollment: 55%
2570 4th Street SW
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 423-2530
Enrollment: 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 In-state tuition: $15,352 Out-state tuition: $15,352 Minority enrollment: 43%

Overview

This State (IA)
Total Faculty
18 staff
Number of Programs Offered
3

Student Body

Total Enrollment
1,532 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
30:1
# Full-Time Students
165 students
# Part-Time Students
1,367 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
127 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
165 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
107 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,466 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
238 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
411 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
% Asian
3%
% Hispanic
9%
% Black
7%
% White
68%
% Hawaiian
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
% Non Resident races
1%
% Unknown races
9%
Diversity Score
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
55%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
26%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,600

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

In-State Tuition Fees
$4,331
Out-State Tuition Fees
$4,920
Private State Tuition Fees
$17,086
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
88%
Median Debt for Graduates
$11,250
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
78%
SAT Total Avg.
n/a
SAT Reading
510
SAT Math
505
SAT Writing (Year 2011)
445
ACT Total Avg.
65
ACT Composite
22
ACT English
22
ACT Math
21
ACT Writing (Year 2012)
11

Frequently Asked Questions

How many community colleges are located in Iowa?
There are 39 community colleges serving 91,540 students in Iowa.
How much do community colleges cost in Iowa?
The average tuition for community colleges in Iowa is approximately $4,331 per year for in-state students and $4,920 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $17,086.
What are the top-ranked community colleges in Iowa?
What is the community college acceptance rate in Iowa?
The average community college acceptance rate in Iowa is 75% (compared to national acceptance rates).
How diverse are community colleges in Iowa?
Community colleges in Iowa have approximately 32% minority enrollment, with the majority being Hispanic or Black.

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