What Kirkwood Community College does

Kirkwood Community College is a public, two-year institution founded in 1966 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving a seven-county service area in eastern Iowa through a main campus at 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW and eight regional centers (Iowa City, Belle Plaine, Jones County, Johnson County, Tipton, Vinton, Washington, Williamsburg). It offers 140+ programs spanning two-year Associate of Applied Science and transfer degrees, one-year certificates and diplomas, short-term workforce training, high school dual credit, high school completion, global learning, and continuing education. Distinctive training facilities include The Hotel at Kirkwood Center (a Four Diamond teaching hotel and the only teaching hotel at a U.S. community college), the Katz Healthcare Simulation Center, state-of-the-art CNC labs, and an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technician program; complementary services include the Kirkwood Bookstore & EagleShop, the Sundberg Library (with 24/7 electronic resources), and a ranked Workplace Learning Connection program (top-10 nationally per the Department of Education's Career Z Challenge).

The institution monetizes primarily through per-credit-hour tuition ($229 in-state, $306 out-of-state, $400 international), supported by employee continuing-education benefits ($1,000/year for full-time staff), more than $3 million in annual scholarships, and the Kibbie Grant covering half of tuition for qualifying students. A secondary revenue stream comes from the Kirkwood Foundation, which is publicly running a $15 million campaign ('The Community's College – The Community's Future') — already at $11M (75%) anchored by a $3M gift from the Tippie family — directed at scholarships, healthcare technology upgrades, English language acquisition, and an innovation fund. Customer segments span recent high school graduates, adult learners, high school dual-enrollment students, and area employers via the Workplace Learning Connection; distribution spans on-campus, online (e.g., Water Environmental Technology), and hybrid formats, with multi-channel marketing across web, YouTube, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and an alumni network.

Kirkwood's technology stack emphasizes student information systems (MyHub student portal, Ellucian ERecruiting) rather than proprietary platforms; no APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML modalities are disclosed. Governance is via a Board of Trustees under Iowa public-institution rules, with no parent company or private-equity involvement. Recent strategic actions include portfolio rationalization (closing Web Application Development at end of 2026-27 and discontinuing Visual Communication and Design in favor of Digital Arts), receipt of $624,895 from the U.S. Department of Education and $25,000 from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation in 2025, and ongoing regional employer integration through IowaWORKS and Workplace Learning Connection.

Name

Kirkwood Community College

Legal name

Kirkwood Community College

Website

https://kirkwood.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kirkwood Community College is a public two-year institution founded in 1966 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving eastern Iowa's seven-county region with 140+ credit programs (degrees, certificates, diplomas) and continuing education through a main campus, eight regional centers, and online learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (611210), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK), Online Community Colleges (2-Year, Degree/Transfer) (EDAHALAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training services
• Continuing education classes
• Technical certificate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Kirkwood generates revenue primarily through tuition charges for credit and non-credit programs. In-state tuition is $229 per credit hour, out-of-state is $306, and international is $400. Additional fees include technology fees, course fees, and course resources.
2. Foundation Fundraising: The Kirkwood Foundation conducts fundraising campaigns to support scholarships, workforce development, and institutional priorities. The college has a $15 million campaign underway for scholarships, healthcare technology upgrades, and workforce development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kirkwood Community College is a public community college based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that delivers post-secondary education through associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, continuing education, and customized workforce training. Instruction spans academic transfer pathways, career and technical programs, and short-term credential courses serving both recent high school graduates and adult learners.

Product overview

Kirkwood Community College is a comprehensive two-year public institution offering a unified educational portfolio centered on its 140+ credit programs spanning two-year degrees (AAS, Liberal Arts), one-year certificates and diplomas, short-term workforce training, and continuing education. Core academic pathways include career-technical programs in manufacturing (CNC Machining, CAD/Mechanical Engineering, Welding, HVAC), healthcare (Veterinary Technician, Nursing, Medical Assisting), technology (Web Application Development, Computer Support, Cybersecurity), and creative fields (Visual Communication and Design, Digital Arts). The college extends access through regional centers, online/distance learning, and high school dual-credit pathways. Supporting the academic mission are ancillary services including the Kirkwood Bookstore & EagleShop (retail/textbooks/technology), Sundberg Library (research/databases), Public Safety (campus security), and Katz Simulation Center (healthcare simulation). An Alumni & Friends network and Workplace Learning Connection (top-10 nationally recognized work-based learning program) bridge the college to the regional workforce. The Kirkwood Foundation operates a $15M fundraising campaign supporting scholarships and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kirkwood Foundation: The college's fundraising and alumni relations arm that manages scholarships and donations.
• Kirkwood Bookstore & EagleShop
• Kirkwood Alerts
• Kirkwood Alumni & Friends

Products and services

• Associate Degree Programs Two-year Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree programs for students preparing to transfer to four-year universities or enter the workforce directly.
• Diploma Programs One- to two-year diploma programs offering concentrated career and technical training for students seeking direct entry into skilled occupations.
• Certificate Programs Short-term certificate programs that equip students with specific occupational skills for entry-level employment or skill upgrades.
• Continuing Education Non-credit courses and workshops for adult learners pursuing personal enrichment, hobby learning, or professional recertification.
• Workforce Training and Customized Corporate Training Customized training programs and consulting delivered to local employers to upskill incumbent workers and meet regional workforce demand.
• Online and Hybrid Learning Online and hybrid course delivery options allowing students to complete coursework remotely or in blended formats.
• College Bookstore On-campus and online bookstore selling textbooks, supplies, apparel, and course materials to enrolled students.
• Library and Learning Resources Library access, research databases, tutoring, and academic support services supporting student learning across all programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10 work-based learning program in the U.S. (Career Z Challenge)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Katz Simulation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare simulation center providing hands-on training facilities for nursing, medical, and health sciences students. Named as a key partner location on the Kirkwood website.
• Iowa Equestrian CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquestrian facility serving as a partner location for Kirkwood's animal science and veterinary programs.
• IowaWORKScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partnership providing skills-to-employment services, career counseling, and job placement support for Kirkwood students and graduates.
• KCCK 88.3 FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal public radio station partnership for community engagement and college visibility.
• The Heritage AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner agency featured in Kirkwood's partner network for community outreach and engagement.
• The Hotel at Kirkwood CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour Diamond hotel serving as a teaching laboratory for Kirkwood's hospitality management students. The only teaching hotel at a community college in the U.S., providing real-world training in a working hotel environment managed by professional staff.
• Workplace Learning ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning work-based learning program connecting Kirkwood students with regional employers for internships, job shadowing, and cooperative education experiences. Recognized as one of top 10 work-based learning programs nationally by the Department of Education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC): Iowa's largest community college serving the Des Moines metro with two-year degrees, workforce training, and similar tuition/credit-hour pricing. Directly comparable public community college operating within the same state funding system with overlapping program portfolio.
• Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC): Serves the Quad Cities region in Eastern Iowa, providing parallel community college programs and overlapping geographic catchment with Kirkwood's 7-county service area. Direct competitor for in-region students and employer workforce partnerships.
• Hawkeye Community College: Public community college serving the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area with similar two-year degree, technical training, and continuing education programs. Comparable Iowa state funding structure and program breadth.
• Indian Hills Community College: Iowa community college offering two-year degrees and workforce training across southern/southeastern Iowa. Operates the same Iowa community college model with similar funding structure and program types.
• North Iowa Area Community College: Iowa community college operating in Mason City/Fort Dodge area with credit programs, continuing education, and workforce partnerships. Direct comparison for tuition pricing and transfer pathways.
• Iowa Lakes Community College: Northwest Iowa community college offering similar two-year degrees, certificates, and continuing education. Comparable public institution under Iowa's community college governance structure.
• Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC): Northeast Iowa community college with parallel degrees, workforce, and continuing education offerings. Direct peer within the same state-level funding and accreditation system.
• Southeastern Community College (Iowa): Community college serving Iowa's southeastern region with credit and workforce programs comparable to Kirkwood's catalog. Operates under the same state-level public community college framework.

Emerging players

• Pima Community College (Online/PimaOnline): Major online community college with established distance learning presence. Comparable as another community college offering associate degrees, but specifically demonstrates the online delivery model that Kirkwood is comparatively underdeveloped in.

Broad incumbents

• Dallas College: Large multi-campus Texas community college with extensive online, dual-credit, and continuing education programs. Larger and broader in geographic scope but operates an analogous community college model with comparable credit programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kirkwoodcc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KirkwoodCommCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/18670954158
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirkwood-community-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/kirkwoodlife

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirkwood Community College