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Kirkwood Community College vs St Luke's College

ADN programs compared — side-by-side on NCLEX pass rates, tuition, admissions, and format.

Updated Reviewed by NurseWay Editorial Team

At a glance

Higher NCLEX pass rate
Kirkwood Community College
97.8% vs 94.3%
Lower tuition
Kirkwood Community College
$5,980 vs $20,940

Side-by-side details

Best value in each row is highlighted.

Kirkwood Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
St Luke's College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Program typeADNADN
Formatin personin person
LocationCedar Rapids, IASioux City, IA
Length24 months24 months
NCLEX pass rate97.8%BEST94.3%
Acceptance rate44.4%
Avg accepted GPA
Min GPA
Entrance exam
Total tuition$5,980 in / $7,968 outBEST$20,940
In-state tuition$5,980BEST$20,940
Out-of-state tuition$7,968BEST$20,940
Clinical placement
AccreditationSCORECARD_BASELINESCORECARD_BASELINE

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has a higher NCLEX pass rate, Kirkwood Community College or St Luke's College?

Kirkwood Community College's ADN program has the higher first-attempt NCLEX pass rate at 97.8%, compared to 94.3% for the other program. NCLEX pass rates are the single best signal of how well a program prepares students for licensure.

Which is cheaper, Kirkwood Community College or St Luke's College?

Kirkwood Community College is the more affordable option at roughly $5,980, compared to $20,940. Factor in residency status, financial aid, and program length when deciding — total cost matters more than annual tuition.

Are Kirkwood Community College and St Luke's College the same type of program?

Both are ADN programs, so they award the same credential. Compare them on NCLEX pass rate, tuition, length, and location to find the better fit.

How do I decide between Kirkwood Community College and St Luke's College?

Start by ruling out programs you can't get into (compare your GPA against each school's admissions stats), then weight what matters most — NCLEX pass rate for quality, total tuition for cost, length for time-to-degree, and format (online, hybrid, in-person) for lifestyle. Use NurseWay's free intake to get a personalized fit score for both.

Want a personalized fit score?

Take the free 3-minute intake and we'll rank both programs against your GPA, location preferences, and budget.