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Iowa Lakes Community College

• About Iowa Lakes
• History & Accreditation
• Class Formats
• Libraries
• Smith Wellness Center

About Iowa Lakes

Iowa Lakes is a two-year Community College founded in 1967. It is designed to provide affordable education to the residents of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, and it is dedicated to serving the changing needs of its students and the communities it serves.

Iowa Lakes is comprised of five campuses: Emmetsburg, Estherville, Algona, Spencer, and Spirit Lake. Currently, over 3,900 students are enrolled on all campuses of the College.

Iowa Lakes offers a variety of classes and programs, such as liberal arts, career option, and vocational-technical programs. Continuing Education programs help to provide workplace training for area businesses and industry. In addition, Iowa Lakes supplies relicensure courses, Adult Basic Education, high school completion (GED), the Small Business Development Center, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and short term vocational training. Students may choose to take classes during the day or evenings or weekends from any of the five campuses.

The College operates Alternative High Schools in Emmetsburg, Estherville, and Spirit Lake in cooperation with local school districts. It also participates in several cooperative programs with local school districts.

Iowa Lakes Community College awards a variety of degrees, diplomas and certificates. To be eligible for a degree or diploma in a credit program, you must successfully complete the last 15 credits before graduation in courses you take at Iowa Lakes.

The Emmetsburg, Estherville, and Spencer campuses provide on-campus housing. The dorms provide the opportunity to develop lifelong relationships, share activities and interests with others, and to experience independence and responsibility. Students participate in a variety of activities, including intercollegiate sports, music groups, Student Senate, newspaper, radio, and many clubs and organizations.

Students choose Iowa Lakes because of its accessibility and low cost, and the availability of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid.

Iowa Lakes prides itself in providing state-of-the-art technology in its classrooms, labs, student centers, and dormitories. It believes in quality education and training on the tools students will be using on the job.

The faculty and staff are knowledgeable and committed to the success of each student. Iowa Lakes offers outstanding faculty, services, career programs and fields of study at the right price, place and time for each person.

You are invited to visit the facilities on any campus. You’ll have the opportunity to tour the buildings, sit in on a class, and meet personally with a professor to discuss your future goals.