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Is Southwestern Community College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Southwestern Community, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Southwestern Community lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $10,975 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $40,129, but the margin is not huge. For context, Southwestern Community's net price runs about 43% above the typical 2-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$10,809
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $3,254 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $13,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$9,871
Median earnings 10 years out
$40,129
Median debt at graduation
$10,975
Graduation rate
56%
At Southwestern Community, a typical graduate carries about $10,975 in student debt and earns roughly $40,129 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $125 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Southwestern Community is a two year school in Creston, IA. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
North Iowa Area Community
Mason City, IA
Worth-It Score: 69/100
Median net price: $10,010
2-year
Kirkwood Community
Cedar Rapids, IA
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $9,705
2-year
Hawkeye Community
Waterloo, IA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $9,649
2-year
Iowa Central Community
Fort Dodge, IA
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $9,328
2-year
Indian Hills Community
Ottumwa, IA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $10,693
Common questions about Southwestern Community
The median net price at Southwestern Community is $9,871 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at community colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable community colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →