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Human services programs in Iowa

12 human services programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these human services programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Social and human service assistants help clients in fields such as psychology, rehabilitation and social work. Most need at least a high school diploma and learn on the job, though some employers prefer an associate's or bachelor's degree in human services or a related field.1

In Iowa, 5 of the 12 programs take students without a high school diploma and 7 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 12 programs here are human services or social work (associate degree, 9 programs), human services certificate (2 programs) and case management and eligibility worker course (1 program).

See the 12 programs

How much do human services programs cost in Iowa?

Two-year degrees (9 programs)
$12,090 to $14,464most of them, usually 64 to 72 weeks long
Other human services programs (3 programs)
$1,185 to $4,995all 3 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program
16%
Working 6 months later
78%
Earned a year, estimated
about $25,000
Length
56 to 72 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Iowa may also offer human services programs. How these figures are made

Are there free human services programs in Iowa?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 12 human services programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

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12 programs

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Human Services, AAS

    Des Moines Area Community College

    Ankeny

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$22,100
    Price if you pay yourself$11,840
    Program website, Human Services, AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    More details about Human Services, AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    Finished
    13%
    Working at 6 months
    77%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,533
    Length
    74 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,550
    Students counted
    431
    Earned a year, estimated
    $22,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,840
    Program website, Human Services, AAS at Des Moines Area Community College

  • Human services certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services, Certificate

    Des Moines Area Community College

    Ankeny

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$27,700
    Price if you pay yourself$4,995
    Program website, Human Services, Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College
    More details about Human Services, Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College
    Finished
    19%
    Working at 6 months
    87%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,928
    Length
    32 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,400
    Students counted
    384
    Earned a year, estimated
    $27,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,995
    Program website, Human Services, Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Human Services Liberal Arts

    Kirkwood Community College

    Cedar Rapids

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Kirkwood Community College, Cedar RapidsHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$34,500
    Price if you pay yourself$11,760
    Program website, Human Services Liberal Arts at Kirkwood Community College
    More details about Human Services Liberal Arts at Kirkwood Community College
    Finished
    16%
    Working at 6 months
    78%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,613
    Length
    64 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,750
    Students counted
    309
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,760
    Program website, Human Services Liberal Arts at Kirkwood Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services

    Iowa Central Community College

    Fort Dodge

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Central Community College, Fort DodgeHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$25,000
    Price if you pay yourself$13,440
    Program website, Human Services at Iowa Central Community College
    More details about Human Services at Iowa Central Community College
    Finished
    15%
    Working at 6 months
    78%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,256
    Length
    80 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,300
    Students counted
    283
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,440
    Program website, Human Services at Iowa Central Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Social Work

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

    Davenport

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, DavenportHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,090
    Program website, Social Work at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    More details about Social Work at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    Finished
    8%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    64 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,000
    Students counted
    99
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,090
    Program website, Social Work at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

  • Human services certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services Certificate

    North Iowa Area Community College

    Mason City

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    North Iowa Area Community College, Mason CityHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$21,900
    Price if you pay yourself$3,717
    Program website, Human Services Certificate at North Iowa Area Community College
    More details about Human Services Certificate at North Iowa Area Community College
    Finished
    67%
    Working at 6 months
    77%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,465
    Length
    15 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $521
    Students counted
    13
    Earned a year, estimated
    $21,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,717
    Program website, Human Services Certificate at North Iowa Area Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services

    Iowa Lakes Community College

    Estherville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Lakes Community College, EsthervilleHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$13,951
    Program website, Human Services at Iowa Lakes Community College
    More details about Human Services at Iowa Lakes Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,000
    Students counted
    33
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,951
    Program website, Human Services at Iowa Lakes Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Social Work

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$16,956
    Program website, Social Work at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Social Work at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    24
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,956
    Program website, Social Work at Indian Hills Community College

  • Case management and eligibility worker courseHybridNo diploma needed

    Community Living Professional

    Goodwill of the Heartland

    Iowa City

    No diploma needed

    Goodwill of the Heartland, Iowa CityCase management and eligibility worker courseHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,185
    Program website, Community Living Professional at Goodwill of the Heartland
    More details about Community Living Professional at Goodwill of the Heartland
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    6 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $250
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,185
    Program website, Community Living Professional at Goodwill of the Heartland

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Human Services

    Kirkwood Community College

    Cedar Rapids

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Kirkwood Community College, Cedar RapidsHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$13,230
    Program website, Human Services at Kirkwood Community College
    More details about Human Services at Kirkwood Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,365
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,230
    Program website, Human Services at Kirkwood Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services: Social Work - Associate of Arts

    Iowa Western Community College

    Council Bluffs

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Western Community College, Council BluffsHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$14,464
    Program website, Human Services: Social Work - Associate of Arts at Iowa Western Community College
    More details about Human Services: Social Work - Associate of Arts at Iowa Western Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,900
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $14,464
    Program website, Human Services: Social Work - Associate of Arts at Iowa Western Community College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services: Generalist - Associate of Arts

    Iowa Western Community College

    Council Bluffs

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Western Community College, Council BluffsHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$16,492
    Program website, Human Services: Generalist - Associate of Arts at Iowa Western Community College
    More details about Human Services: Generalist - Associate of Arts at Iowa Western Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    64 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,900
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,492
    Program website, Human Services: Generalist - Associate of Arts at Iowa Western Community College

How to pay for human services programs in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for human services programs in Iowa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for human services programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for human services programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Human services programs in Iowa

programs with a price cost under $10,000
3 of 12
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
13th of 17
human services programs here, against the typical state's 4
12 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the human services programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Human services programs in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Omaha and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas, 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Iowa

How human services programs compare with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in Iowa

Where the Iowa human services program numbers come from

Which Iowa human services programs are on this list?

These are the human services programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa human services programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about human services programs in Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social and Human Service Assistants
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List