Trade school programs in Iowa
200 trade school programs in 19 fields of skilled trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
20 schools offer these programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 19 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.
Trade school programs teach hands-on work with tools, machines and building systems. That runs from building work like carpentry, plumbing and electrical, through repairing cars, diesel trucks, heating and cooling systems and factory machinery, to welding, sheet metal, masonry, auto body repair, CNC machining, manufacturing and electronics work, solar and wind installation, water treatment, workplace safety, running heavy equipment and cranes, and inspecting homes. Most are certificates; some are two-year degrees or apprenticeships.
All job training programs in Iowa, every line of work
Accredited trade schools in Iowa, each school with its accreditor
Trade school programs by state, to compare Iowa with other states
Compare trade school programs in Iowa: cost, pay and results
50 programs at 17 schools
- Most cost
- $1,509 to $6,994
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $34,000
- Working 6 months later
- 79%
- Finished
- 55%
23 programs at 12 schools
- Most cost
- $6,768 to $14,518
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $47,600
- Working 6 months later
- 84%
- Finished
- 56%
19 programs at 11 schools
- Most cost
- $9,342 to $16,239
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $30,300
- Working 6 months later
- 84%
- Finished
- 49%
13 programs at 9 schools
- Most cost
- $6,195 to $12,390
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $33,300
- Working 6 months later
- 81%
- Finished
- 61%
12 programs at 7 schools
- Most cost
- $5,923 to $10,836
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $27,200
- Working 6 months later
- 59%
- Finished
- 59%
12 programs at 7 schools
- Most cost
- $6,702 to $14,488
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $26,100
- Working 6 months later
- 71%
- Finished
- 50%
10 programs at 7 schools
- Most cost
- $3,715 to $12,726
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $45,100
- Working 6 months later
- 85%
- Finished
- 54%
10 programs at 5 schools
- Most cost
- $4,502 to $12,637
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $43,700
- Working 6 months later
- 85%
- Finished
- 41%
10 programs at 8 schools
- Most cost
- $2,540 to $14,545
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $28,100
- Working 6 months later
- 77%
- Finished
- 78%
10 programs at 6 schools
- Most cost
- $13,141 to $17,586
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $44,200
- Working 6 months later
- 82%
- Finished
- 38%
8 programs at 7 schools
- Most cost
- $9,609 to $15,089
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $43,200
- Working 6 months later
- 84%
- Finished
- 48%
5 programs at 4 schools
- Most cost
- $7,910 to $14,600
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $30,700
- Working 6 months later
- 81%
- Finished
- 49%
5 programs at 4 schools
- Most cost
- $11,840 to $12,342
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
4 programs at 3 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
3 programs at 2 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
2 programs at 2 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not reported
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Finished
- Not reported
2 programs at one school
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
1 program at one school
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not enough data
- Working 6 months later
- Not enough data
- Finished
- Not enough data
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
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
Other job training in Iowa, by line of work
- Business and office training127
- IT certification programs90
- Medical certification programs85
- Allied health programs70
- Nursing and patient care programs69
- Child care and social services training45
- Transportation and logistics training44
- First responder training33
- Beauty school25
- Culinary and hospitality programs18
- All job training in Iowa806
Programs approved in Iowa in each line of work.
Where the Iowa trade school 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 trade school programs in Iowa
Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- 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)
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- 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