Nursing and patient care programs in Iowa

69 nursing and patient care programs in 6 fields of nursing and patient care, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

25 schools offer these programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 6 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

These programs train you to care for patients directly: in a hospital, a nursing home or their own home. They run from short courses for nursing assistants (CNA), patient care technicians, home health aides and medication aides to LPN programs and RN degrees.

All job training programs in Iowa, every line of work

Accredited nursing schools in Iowa, each school with its accreditor

Nursing and patient care programs by state, to compare Iowa with other states

Compare nursing and patient care programs in Iowa: cost, pay and results

CNA classes (nursing assistant)
22 programs at 18 schools
Most cost
$625 to $750
Earned a year, estimated
about $22,200
Working 6 months later
83%
Finished
69%
RN programs (registered nurse)
22 programs at 18 schools
Most cost
$15,555 to $49,350
Earned a year, estimated
about $57,000
Working 6 months later
91%
Finished
71%
LPN programs (licensed practical nurse)
14 programs at 14 schools
Most cost
$8,375 to $10,231
Earned a year, estimated
about $22,600
Working 6 months later
87%
Finished
55%
Medication aide training
9 programs at 8 schools
Most cost
$449 to $585
Earned a year, estimated
about $35,000
Working 6 months later
95%
Finished
71%
Home health aide training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Patient care technician training (hospital patient care)
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Iowa may offer more. How these figures are made

Are there free nursing programs in Iowa?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most medication aide programs in Iowa cost $449 to $585, and most RN programs $15,555 to $49,350. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Iowa, by line of work

Programs approved in Iowa in each line of work.

Where the Iowa nursing and patient care numbers come from

Which Iowa programs are counted?

Programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Iowa offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about nursing and patient care programs in Iowa

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources