Frequently Asked Questions
- When should I apply for admission?
- How do I request transcripts be sent to the Admissions Office?
- How much will it cost to attend IWCC?
- What is a credit hour?
- What is a Reiver Visit Day?
- How do I find a schedule of classes being offered?
- Why do I need to speak with an Admissions Advisor?
- How do I get a student ID card?
- Are Iowa Western credits transferable to another college?
- Do I need to take a Placement Test?
- How do I get books?
- What are Developmental Classes and why do I have to take them?
Q: When should I apply for admission?
- The earlier you apply the better chance you have of meeting scholarship deadlines. However, applications for admission are accepted anytime before the start of the semester you intend to enroll in. We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to your planned date of registration so you have time to finish all of the admissions requirements. You can Apply Online for free 24 hours a day!
Apply Online
Q: How do I request transcripts be sent to the Admissions Office?
- To have your High School or GED transcripts sent to Iowa Western, contact the school or center from which you graduated and ask them to mail an official copy of your transcripts to Iowa Western. Most colleges will need to have your request in writing for the transcript to be released. For college transcripts, you will need to contact your previous college and find out what you need to do. If you have attended any college, regardless of how many credits you received, Iowa Western requires an official copy to be mailed to us. You can have them mailed to:
2700 College Road Box 4c
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Q: How much will it cost to attend IWCC?
Iowa Western offers a great education and an exciting student life at an affordable price. Because cost is still an issue for many students, we offer student financial aid programs as well as a deferred payment plan to help you finance your education. In addition, IWCC gives almost a million dollars in scholarships annually.
Cost & Financial Aid Info
Q: What is a credit hour?
- A credit hour indicates how much time you will spend in the classroom. For example, if you take a 3 credit hour course, you will be in that class for 3 hours per week. The rule of thumb is that for every hour you are in the classroom, you should study two or three hours outside of the classroom.
Q: What is a Reiver Visit Day?
A Reiver Visit Day is one of the best ways to discover what it feels like to be a student at Iowa Western. At Reiver Visit Day you, will get to meet Iowa Western students, advisors, and instructors. You will experience a mock lecture, tour the Reiver Suites housing facility, participate in an “Are You Smarter than a Reiver” game, and participate in an interactive “Talk show” style presentation.
P.S. Make sure that you know what a Reiver is - it's a River Pirate!
Sign up to Attend a Reiver Day
Q: How do I find a schedule of classes being offered?
A complete listing of our class schedule is available online, which means you will see up-to-the minute information regarding class times and availability. You can even search for classes that meet on certain days at certain times or search by your favorite instructor! All of this can be done without logging in at our Course Search Webpage.
Online Course Search
Q: Why do I need to speak with an Admissions Advisor?
- Our Admissions Advisors will give you an advisement guide, which outlines the courses you need for graduation, and will work with you to develop your schedule for your first semester. You will then be assigned an Academic Advisor who is an expert in your academic program (aka major). Your Academic Advisor will help you plan which classes to take each semester to stay on track for graduation, answer questions about transfer, and offer insight on transfer or career options. Your Academic Advisor is one of your most valuable resources on campus and it is very important to touch base with this person on a regular basis. It is your responsibility as a student to meet with them regularly and take advantage of the advice they have to give you. You can find out who your advisor is under the “My Profile” link on your SOS page. To learn more about the Admissions Advisors, visit the Meet Your Advisors Webpage.
Meet the Admissions Advisors
Q: How do I get a student ID card?
After you register for classes, you will need to get your student ID in the Information Technology Center located in Fremont Hall. Your student ID will grant you free access to athletic events and activities; it will also be your “lunch ticket” if you have a meal plan, and if you live on campus it will be your key card to gain entrance to the housing facilities.
Q: Are Iowa Western credits transferable to another college?
- Iowa Western is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and our Arts and Science credits will transfer to most four-year colleges. We strongly encourage you to contact the schools that you may be interested in to request transfer information. It is your responsibility as a student to make sure you are in the correct classes to transfer to your next colleges. We have many resources that will help you with your transfer process. Check out our Transfer Planning Web page for more details!
Transfer Planning Webpage
Q: Do I need to take a Placement Test?
Yes. All of our programs require you to have valid (not more than 2 years old) placement test scores on file but most of our programs do not require a minimum placement test score for acceptances. If you have taken the ASSET or ACT you may submit those scores. If you have not taken either of those, or are unhappy with your scores, you may take the COMPASS test, for free, at Iowa Western. We use your placement test scores to place you appropriately in English, Reading and Math classes. If your scores are high enough you may begin with college level courses. If your scores indicate that you need a little extra work before taking the college level courses we have several remedial courses you may start with. To schedule a COMPASS test you can call us at 712-325-3278. Remember: the better your scores are the fewer classes you’ll have to take so don’t forget to brush up! For practice questions check out our Links to Practice Questions.
Placement Testing
Q: How do I get books?
- As a student, you can preorder your textbooks through the IWCC online Bookstore. One of the many benefits of preordering your books is that you do not need to wait in line and search for books at the bookstore. Another benefit is you will have first dibs on the used textbooks. To preorder your books you can fill out the order form on the Bookstore's Website. Then, you can pick up your box of books when they are ready for you.
IWCC Bookstore
Q: What are Developmental Classes and why do I have to take them?
- A Developmental Class is a class that teaches fundamental skills and prepares students to be more successful in college level classes. Iowa Western puts the success of our students at the top of the priority list. We look at placement test scores to determine an appropriate starting point for each student. To see where your scores place you check out our Placement Test Guide.
Placement Test Guide