Eastern Iowa Community College District vs Southwestern Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,129 against a $39,484 total, vs $39,060 at Eastern Iowa Community College District. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Iowa Community College District | Southwestern Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,017 | $9,871 |
| Total net cost | $56,068 | $39,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,060 | $40,129 |
| Median debt | $12,739 | $10,975 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$242,068 | -$204,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Eastern Iowa Community College District or Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College, at $9,871 a year after aid versus $14,017 — a gap of $4,146 a year, or $16,584 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Eastern Iowa Community College District or Southwestern Community College graduates earn more?
Southwestern Community College graduates report a median $40,129 ten years after entry, $1,069 more than the $39,060 at Eastern Iowa Community College District. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Eastern Iowa Community College District or Southwestern Community College?
Southwestern Community College: its completers carry a median $10,975 in federal loans versus $12,739 at Eastern Iowa Community College District, a difference of $1,764. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
59% of students finish at Southwestern Community College, against 45% at Eastern Iowa Community College District. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.