Accredited culinary and hospitality schools in Iowa
7 accredited schools in Iowa offer culinary and hospitality programs approved for WIOA funding
These schools are on the US Department of Education's list of accredited schools, and Iowa has approved their programs for workforce funding. Between them they offer 14 of the 18 culinary and hospitality programs on the state's list.
The Department doesn't accredit schools itself. It reviews accrediting agencies and lists the ones it recognizes as reliable judges of the quality of the education they accredit.1 Each school below names its accreditor, the year it was first accredited where the list records it, and its next review.
WIOA funding doesn't require accreditation. Besides colleges, a state can approve other public and private training providers,2 so many short courses come from schools that aren't on the Department's list. Their programs and results are on each field's page.
Culinary and hospitality programs in Iowa, every school, with costs and results
All job training programs in Iowa
More accredited schools in Iowa: Trade schools · Nursing schools · Medical certification programs · Allied health programs · IT schools · Business schools · Beauty schools · First responder schools · Transportation schools · Child care and social services programs
Accredited culinary programs in Iowa
All 6 schools with culinary programs on Iowa's list are accredited. They offer all 8 programs. See these programs with prices and results
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2029
3 programs
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2027
1 program
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2030
1 program
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2029
1 program
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2030
1 program
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2027
1 program
Accredited hospitality management programs in Iowa
3 of the 4 schools with hospitality management programs on Iowa's list are accredited. They offer 6 of the 10 programs. See these programs with prices and results
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2029
3 programs
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2027
2 programs
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington
Accredited by Higher Learning Commissionnext review 2030
1 program
How we matched Iowa's schools to the accreditation list
Which schools are counted?
Schools with programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding in food and hospitality, from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).3 The two lists share no ID number, so we matched each school by its website and name in the same state, and checked every unclear case by hand. A school that only hosts a college's classes doesn't count as the college. Where we couldn't tell, the school is left out.
How current is the accreditation?
We read the Department's list of October 24, 2026 and count only current accreditation. The Department notes that agencies report this information, that it isn't audited, and that the agency itself has the latest status.1 Before you enroll, check the school's standing with its accreditor.
Sources for the accreditation facts about Iowa
Show the 3 sourcesHide the sources
- US Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), data files of 2026-10-24
- 20 CFR 680.410, What is an eligible training provider? (eCFR)
- 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