Eastern Iowa Community College vs Iowa Western Community College: Which Nursing School Wins on the Numbers?
Two of Iowa's biggest nursing schools, side by side — 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates from the state board of nursing, plus cost, admissions and each school's own nursing-graduate earnings from federal data. Iowa Western Community College's best RN program outperformed Eastern Iowa Community College's on the 2025 first-time NCLEX (83.8% vs 70.1%), while Eastern Iowa Community College is the cheaper school on sticker tuition ($4,848 vs $6,930 a year).
| Eastern Iowa Community CollegeIowa · Public | Iowa Western Community CollegeIowa · Public | |
|---|---|---|
| Best 2025 NCLEX-RN pass rate | 70.1% | 83.8% |
| In-state tuition / yrsticker, whole institution | $4,848 | $6,930 |
| Avg net price after aid / yr | $14,017 | $14,629 |
| Graduation rate | 45% | 40% |
| Undergraduates | 3,520 | 2,916 |
| ADN grad pay, 1 yr out | $62,338 | $65,268 |
| ADN grad median debt | $24,575 | $20,000 |
| PN/LPN grad pay, 1 yr out | $45,662 | $33,043 |
Green = better on that row (higher pass rate, pay and graduation rate; lower cost and debt). Acceptance rate and size aren't scored — bigger or more selective isn't better for everyone. “—” = not published for that school.
Want a different matchup? Open this comparison in the interactive tool and swap either school — any two in the country.
The pass-rate gap is a preparation gap
Whichever school you pick, the students who pass the NCLEX are the ones practicing NCLEX-style questions all the way through school — not just senior year. NurseSavvy does that from your own course materials for $19/mo, free for 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the higher NCLEX pass rate — Eastern Iowa Community College or Iowa Western Community College?
Iowa Western Community College — 83.8% vs 70.1% first-time NCLEX-RN in 2025, per the Iowa board of nursing. One year of data; check the trend on each school's page.
Which is cheaper — Eastern Iowa Community College or Iowa Western Community College?
On published in-state tuition, Eastern Iowa Community College ($4,848/yr vs $6,930/yr). After average aid, net prices run $14,017 (Eastern Iowa Community College) vs $14,629 (Iowa Western Community College).
About this data
Pass rates are 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN rates from the Iowa board of nursing (each school's best rated RN program). Tuition, net price, admissions, earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release); earnings and debt are program-level figures for each school's own nursing graduates and lag the current class by several years. Full sources are on each school's page.