Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Waterloo, Iowa
Hawkeye Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$15,065Annual Cost
$42,849Grad Salary
21.9%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$10,298
Need-Based Aid
21.9% receive Pell
Hawkeye Community College, established in 1966, is a public community college in Waterloo, Iowa. It offers programs in agribusiness, nursing, and renewable energy. The campus features a wind turbine training site and a veterinary clinic.
HCC is unranked but vital to Iowa's agricultural and industrial economy. Its partnerships with John Deere and local hospitals ensure strong job placement.
Hawkeye Community College Acceptance Rate
Hawkeye Community College maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Hawkeye Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Hawkeye Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Hawkeye Community College Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Hawkeye Community College Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Hawkeye Community College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Hawkeye Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Hawkeye Community College provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Apply to the College First, the Nursing Program Second - They Are Two Separate Gates
Hawkeye has open general admission (apply anytime, no essay, no fee), but its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Practical Nursing programs are competitive-entry within that open campus: prerequisite science and English courses (Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Composition I, Nurse Aide certification) must be completed and graded before a student can even apply to the nursing cohort itself. Students planning to enter nursing straight from high school should be advised to enroll as a general/pre-nursing student first, front-load the four listed prerequisite courses in year one, and treat nursing-program application as a distinct, later step - not something bundled into initial college enrollment.
Use the $21 Million Health Sciences Building as Leverage for Clinical-Placement Questions in Advising, Not Essays
Hawkeye built a new state-of-the-art health sciences facility specifically for its nursing pipeline, and the program advertises free tuition for eligible nursing students (state/regional workforce funding). Because Hawkeye's nursing program is genuinely resource-heavy relative to its size, applicants should use their admissions/advising meeting (not a formal essay, since HCC doesn't require one) to ask specifically about clinical site placement guarantees and cohort start dates - cohort seats are limited even though general admission isn't, and asking this early signals seriousness to advisors who influence prerequisite-course sequencing.
Exploit the 11-School Transfer Agreement Network Instead of Applying Directly to a Four-Year School
Hawkeye holds direct transfer agreements with eleven four-year institutions, including the University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa - for example, the University of Iowa College of Nursing has a formal HCC-to-Iowa RN-to-BSN plan of study with mapped course equivalencies. A student aiming for a four-year nursing or health degree but worried about competitive freshman admission elsewhere should be counseled to start at Hawkeye specifically because the transfer pathway is pre-negotiated course-by-course, not a generic articulation promise - this converts an uncertain direct-admit gamble into a near-guaranteed stepwise path.
Target the Nine Fully Evening/Online Programs for Working or Nontraditional Applicants
Hawkeye explicitly designates nine of its 40+ career and transfer programs (including the newer Medical Assistant program) as completable entirely online or in the evening. For adult, working, or geographically distant applicants (Hawkeye also runs satellite sites beyond Waterloo/Cedar Falls, including Iowa City, Dubuque, Des Moines, Davenport, and Sioux City), advisors should specifically confirm which of these nine programs matches the student's target career before enrollment, since scheduling flexibility is program-specific, not campus-wide.
Expert Insight:
Because Hawkeye is open-admission with no application fee, students and families sometimes assume every program inside the college is equally easy to enter - the nursing program in particular has real prerequisite-course gatekeeping (grades in A&P I/II, Composition I, and Nurse Aide certification) that can silently delay entry by a full year or more if the sequencing isn't planned from the first semester.
Hawkeye Community College Profile
Full Name
Hawkeye Community College
City
Waterloo
State
Iowa
ZIP Code
50701
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Hawkeye Community College Degree Worth It?
Getting into Hawkeye Community College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Hawkeye Community College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Hawkeye Community College is $51,800 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.03%.
How much does a degree from Hawkeye Community College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Hawkeye Community College is $15,065. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Hawkeye Community College is $10,298.
21.9% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 24 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Hawkeye Community College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Hawkeye Community College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Hawkeye Community College as your choice in the form.
How much does a Hawkeye Community College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $42,849. An average Hawkeye Community College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Hawkeye Community College
Associate Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Hawkeye Community College →
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawkeye Community College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $42,849 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $15,065 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
21.9% of students receive a Pell Grant here, which is below the national average of around 35%. This institution serves a higher proportion of higher-income students. Merit-based scholarships may still be available regardless of financial need — check the official financial aid page of the institute for details.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.