At $8,875/yr net price, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates earn $40,473/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $6,473/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $8,875 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $35,500 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,473/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$6,473/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 40.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,493/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,663/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,647/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,402/yr |
| $110,001+ | $10,970/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $50,387 | $13,897 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $38,289 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $34,704 | $5,665 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $34,603 | $8,931 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $34,526 | $11,000 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. | Associate | $33,993 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $33,726 | $11,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $32,569 | |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. | Certificate | $28,960 | |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $28,598 | $5,500 |
The Risk Factor
40.2% of students at Western Iowa Tech Community College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Western Iowa Tech gives you a low-cost, low-debt path with modest payoff. You borrow little and pay under $9,000 a year, so the downside risk is small. But median earnings ten years out sit close to $40,000, which is a ceiling more than a floor for most programs here.
Nursing is the clear winner. The associate nursing degree pays about $50,000 a year, roughly $12,000 more than the accounting associate and $16,000 more than the practical nursing certificate. If you can get into the nursing track and finish, the return justifies the cost easily, even with the higher $13,897 debt load that comes with it. The Allied Health certificate is the efficiency play: under $6,000 in debt for earnings near $35,000.
The weaker bets are the certificate programs and vehicle maintenance, which land in the mid-$30,000s. These still beat the cost of attendance, but they don't build much margin over time, and the vehicle maintenance associate carries the full $11,000 median debt for those earnings.
The real risk here is finishing. Only 40% of students graduate, and a credential you don't complete leaves you with debt and no earnings bump. That matters more than any single salary number.
Net price barely moves with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $7,500. over $110,000, you pay about $11,000. There's no steep discount for lower incomes, so budget for close to the full sticker regardless of what you make.
This school fits you if you're aiming at nursing or allied health and want to keep debt near zero. Look elsewhere if you want a program outside health care with strong earning power, since nothing else here clears $40,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Western Iowa Tech Community College worth the money?
Western Iowa Tech offers decent value with a net price of $8,875 annually and median debt of just $11,000. However, the 40% graduation rate means many students don't finish, and average earnings of $40,473 after 10 years are modest for college graduates.
What are the best paying programs at Western Iowa Tech Community College?
Registered nursing graduates earn the highest at $50,387 annually, making it the clear winner for return on investment. Accounting graduates earn $38,289, while most other programs including automotive repair and practical nursing pay in the mid-$30,000s.
How much student debt do Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have?
The median debt is $11,000, which is relatively low for college graduates. This manageable debt load combined with the school's affordable tuition helps improve the overall financial picture for those who complete their programs.
What is the graduation rate at Western Iowa Tech Community College?
Only 40% of students graduate from Western Iowa Tech, meaning 6 out of 10 students don't complete their programs. This low completion rate is a significant risk factor that prospective students should consider when weighing costs and benefits.