North Iowa Area Community College

  • The mission of the North Iowa Area Community College is to enhance the quality of life for people of North Iowa through comprehensive educational opportunities, progressive partnerships, exemplary service, and responsive leadership.

School Highlights

North Iowa Area Community College serves 3,261 students (36% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 11:1 is lower than the state community college average of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 32%.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 3,261 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,703
  • Out-state tuition: $6,664
  • Student:teacher ratio: 11:1
  • Minority enrollment: 16%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Overview

The teacher population of 292 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
North Iowa Area Community College
(IA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or nondegree-granting)
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Private not-for-profit
Total Faculty
292 staff
274 staff
This chart displays total faculty of North Iowa Area Community College and community college average number of faculty in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of North Iowa Area Community College has grown by 12% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 11:1 has increased from 9:1 over five years.
The North Iowa Area Community College diversity score of 0.29 is less than the state average of 0.52. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
3,261 students
163 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of North Iowa Area Community College and community college average number of enrollment of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
17:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of North Iowa Area Community College and community college average student staff ratio of Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,172 students
148 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of North Iowa Area Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
2,089 students
1,992 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of North Iowa Area Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of North Iowa Area Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Iowa.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
326 students
333 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,172 students
148 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of North Iowa Area Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
61 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
2,089 students
2,075 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
403 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
400 students
400 students
This chart displays the dormitory capacity of North Iowa Area Community College and the community college average dormitory capacity of Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Asian
1%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
7%
9%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
4%
7%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
84%
68%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of White community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Two or more races
2%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in North Iowa Area Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
n/a
8%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in North Iowa Area Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Iowa.
Diversity Score
0.29
0.52
This chart displays the diversity score of North Iowa Area Community College and the community college average diversity score of Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.5477%
0.5143%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of North Iowa Area Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.2578%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,600
$33,600
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of North Iowa Area Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Iowa by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,703 is more than the state average of $4,331. The in-state tuition has declined by 18% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,664 is more than the state average of $4,920. The out-state tuition has declined by 19% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,703
$4,331
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of North Iowa Area Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$6,664
$4,920
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of North Iowa Area Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Iowa by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
94%
93%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in North Iowa Area Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$9,000
$11,250
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in North Iowa Area Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$5,500
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in North Iowa Area Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
72%
ACT Composite
n/a
22
ACT English
n/a
22
ACT Math
n/a
21
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • The College, which began as Mason City Junior College (MCJC) in 1918, has the distinction of being the very first public two-year college in Iowa and one of the first such institutions in the country. Today, the 500-acre countryside campus consists of contemporary, state-of-the-art facilities including the Student Activity Center, Muse-Norris Conference Center, and Murphy Manufacturing Technology Center, as well as lakeside student apartments. The College also operates Community Education Centers in Charles City, Garner, Hampton, Lake Mills and Osage. With a staff of approximately 300, the College currently offers nearly 40 one- and two-year career programs, the first two years toward a bachelor's degree in most fields, and an array of continuing education opportunities for professional and personal growth. On average, the College serves over 2,800 degree students each year and thousands more through non-credit programs. The college is accredited by theHigher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does North Iowa Area Community College cost?
North Iowa Area Community College's tuition is approximately $4,703 for In-State students and $6,664 for Out-State students.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 3,261 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,703
  • Out-state tuition: $6,664
  • Student:teacher ratio: 11:1
  • Minority enrollment: 16%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Iowa public community colleges, the average tuition 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. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

Iowa community colleges have a diversity score of 0.52, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in Iowa is Ross College-Davenport. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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