What does it cost to attend Southwestern Community College?
The 2025 tuition & fees of Southwestern Community College is $8,064 for in-state and $8,316 for out-of-state students. SWCC's tuition & fees has significantly risen this year (more than 10%).
Its tuition & fees is lower than the average tuition for Associate Colleges' tuition of $13,494 based on out-of-state tuition rate.
Based on the last year increase rate, The 2026 estimated tuition & fees at SWCC is $9,989 for Iowa residents and $10,291 for out-of-state students, a 23.8% increase compared to 2025's rate.
SWCC 2025 Tuition & Fees
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | Associate Colleges' Average |
|---|
| 2023-2024 | $6,510 |
$6,720 | $13,101 |
| 2024-2025 | $8,064 | $8,316 | $13,494 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 23.87% | 23.75% | 3.00% |
| 2025-2026 Estimate | $9,989 | $10,291 | $13,899 |
How much do you actually pay at SWCC?
The living costs at SWCC is $10,712 when living on campus. The on-campus living costs increased by 10.64% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 9.44%.
The SWCC's 2025 COA is $20,162 for in-state and $20,414 for out-of-state students for living on campus. The off-campus COA is $21,799 for in-state and $22,051 for out-of-state students.
34% of enrolled students have received grants or scholarships, and the average aid amount is $6,615. It could cover 79.55% of the full tuition amount.
After receiving the financial aid, the net price is $13,547 for in-state and $13,799 for out-of-state students..
Southwestern Community College 2025 Cost of Attendance (COA) | On-Campus | Off-Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-State | In-State | Out-State |
|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $8,064 | $8,316 | $8,064 | $8,316 |
|---|
| Room & Board | $8,910 | $8,910 |
|---|
| Personal Expenses | $1,802 | $3,439 |
|---|
| Books & Supplies | $1,386 | $1,386 |
|---|
| COA | $20,162 | $20,414 | $21,799 | $22,051 |
|---|
| COA with Financial Aid | $13,547 | $13,799 | $15,184 | $15,436 |
|---|
Tuition Per Credit Hour
For part-time and/or full-time students who take additional credits at SWCC is $211 for Iowa residents and $218 for out-of-state students.
Per Credit Hour Charge at SWCC
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | 2023-2024 | $204 | $211 |
|---|
| 2024-2025 | $211 | $218 |
|---|
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | $218 | $225 |
|---|
SWCC Tuition Charts
The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at SWCC. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between Southwestern Community College and its similar schools.
Tuition Comparison between SWCC and Similar Colleges
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Southwestern Community College | $8,064 | $8,316 |
|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College | $5,790 | $6,690 |
|---|
| Kirkwood Community College | $6,176 | $8,220 |
|---|
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | $4,848 | $6,456 |
|---|
| Iowa Western Community College | $6,930 | $7,080 |
|---|
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | $5,186 | $5,330 |
|---|
SWCC Tuition Frequently Asked Questions
For the academic year 2024-2025, the undergraduate tuition & fees at SWCC are $8,064 for Iowa residents and $8,316 for out-of-state students.
The total cost of attendance (COA) at SWCC for the academic year 2024-2025 includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, and living expenses. For in-state students, the estimated COA is $20,162 and $20,414 for out-of-state students. Actual costs may vary depending on housing choices and personal expenses.
It has been risen by 23.87% for Iowa residents and increased by 23.75% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year.
34% of SWCC undergraduates receive grants or scholarships, with an average aid amount of $6,615 per student. Additional financial aid options are available through SWCC's financial aid office.
SWCC charges $211 per credit hour for in-state undergraduates and $218 for out-of-state undergraduates.
The in-state undergraduate tuition at SWCC is much higher than the average for similar schools ($5,373 - public Associate's - Public Suburban-serving Multicampus).The out-of-state undergraduate tuition at SWCC is about the same as the average for similar schools ($8,861 - public Associate's - Public Suburban-serving Multicampus).