Do Students Succeed at Iowa Central Community College?
Success rates, completion statistics, and student outcome metrics for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA.
Student Success at Iowa Central Community College at a Glance
Iowa Central Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Fort Dodge, IA. Current enrollment is 4,949 students.
- 41.6% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 35.7% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 73% of exiters from its largest program (Business - Career Development) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $7,799 per quarter after exiting Business - Career Development
- 1,171 graduates across 98 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 77 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Iowa Central Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business - Career Development | 14% | 73% | 68% | $7,799 |
| Associate Degree Nursing | 64% | 97% | 95% | $13,963 |
| Criminal Justice | 23% | 78% | 71% | $9,258 |
| Truck Driving | 72% | 68% | 64% | $12,174 |
| Human Services | 15% | 78% | 63% | $6,256 |
| Accounting Associate | 38% | 68% | 66% | $4,452 |
| Welding Technology | 46% | 57% | 54% | $9,558 |
| Computer Networking Technology | 26% | 78% | 68% | $10,519 |
| Diesel Technology | 43% | 83% | 71% | $10,099 |
| Radiological Technology | 52% | 85% | 91% | $8,192 |
| Automotive Technology | 33% | 82% | 84% | $10,474 |
| Practical Nursing | 47% | 87% | 96% | $7,096 |
| 75 Hour Nurse Aide | 98% | 86% | 100% | $5,538 |
| Heating Air Conditioning Technology (HVAC) | 45% | 85% | 81% | $6,002 |
| Computer Repair | 27% | 78% | 80% | $7,777 |
| Carpentry | 34% | 49% | 52% | $7,194 |
| Fire Science | 38% | 80% | 68% | $6,383 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | 43% | 86% | 98% | $11,432 |
| Dental Hygiene | 56% | 87% | 97% | $13,852 |
| Graphics Technology | 31% | 73% | 78% | $5,700 |
| Certified Medication Aide | 38% | 100% | 95% | $11,535 |
| Medical Assistant | 67% | 96% | 89% | $7,483 |
| Automotive Collision Technology | 57% | 55% | 82% | $5,933 |
| Engineering Design Technology | 32% | 74% | 59% | $3,838 |
| Industrial Mechanics | 65% | 88% | 93% | $9,196 |
| Industrial Robotics and Automation | 57% | 100% | 94% | $15,664 |
| Electrical/Mechanical Technician | 16% | 88% | 83% | $10,464 |
| Early Childhood Education | 29% | 75% | 71% | $3,609 |
| Industrial Business | 46% | — | 57% | — |
| Emergency Medical Services | 58% | 81% | 94% | $9,904 |
| Web Technology | 30% | 85% | 80% | $2,403 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Iowa Central Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Iowa Central Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
35.7%
Working Student Success
39.4%
Transfer Out Rate
30.2%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.5%
How Iowa Central Community College Compares
Iowa Central Community College's 36% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 30% transfer out and 0% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Iowa Central Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Iowa Central Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 59.9% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Iowa Central Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time students have an advantage of 38.0 percentage points over transfer students, which may reflect the benefits of starting fresh at the institution.
Combined 15.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Iowa Central Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (39.4% vs 32.2% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Iowa Central Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,917 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All Part-time Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.