Kirkwood Community College vs Eastern Iowa Community College District: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kirkwood Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,016 against a $19,410 total, vs $39,060 at Eastern Iowa Community College District. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kirkwood Community College | Eastern Iowa Community College District |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,705 | $14,017 |
| Total net cost | $19,410 | $56,068 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,016 | $39,060 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $12,739 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$166,290 | -$242,068 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kirkwood Community College or Eastern Iowa Community College District?
Kirkwood Community College, at $9,705 a year after aid versus $14,017 — a gap of $4,312 a year, or $36,658 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kirkwood Community College or Eastern Iowa Community College District graduates earn more?
Kirkwood Community College graduates report a median $41,016 ten years after entry, $1,956 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, Kirkwood Community College or Eastern Iowa Community College District?
Kirkwood Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $12,739 at Eastern Iowa Community College District, a difference of $739. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
45% of students finish at Eastern Iowa Community College District, against 43% at Kirkwood Community College. 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.