LPN programs in Iowa
12 LPN programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free
12 schools offer these practical nursing programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.
Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs) give basic medical care to patients who are ill, injured or recovering. Most finish a state-approved certificate or diploma program that takes about a year, then pass an exam to become licensed.1 In Iowa, 1 of the 12 programs take students without a high school diploma, and 1 is taught partly or fully online.
See the 12 programsHow much do LPN programs cost in Iowa?
$8,030 to $10,502
is what most programs cost if you pay yourself
All 12 programs with a price: $4,995 to $15,873
- Finished the program
- 55%
- Working 6 months later
- 87%
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $22,600
- Length
- 39 to 48 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 LPN programs. How these figures are made
LPN programs in Des Moines, Burlington, Ottumwa and other Iowa cities
Choosing an area filters the list below. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas, 4 in smaller cities and towns.
All 12 LPN programs in Iowa approved for funding
Filters
12 programs
Practical Nursing, Diploma
Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$17,400Price if you pay yourself$4,995Program website, Practical Nursing, Diploma at Des Moines Area Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing, Diploma at Des Moines Area Community College
- Finished
- 78%
- Working at 6 months
- 84%
- Earned in a quarter
- $4,358
- Length
- 42 weeks, 14 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $3,051
- Students counted
- 715
- a year, estimated
- $17,400
- price
- $4,995
Practical Nursing *PN.DP
Northeast Iowa Community College, Calmar
Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimated$20,400Price if you pay yourself$10,801Program website, Practical Nursing *PN.DP at Northeast Iowa Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing *PN.DP at Northeast Iowa Community College
- Finished
- 43%
- Working at 6 months
- 89%
- Earned in a quarter
- $5,091
- Length
- 48 weeks, 20 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,168
- Students counted
- 553
- a year, estimated
- $20,400
- price
- $10,801
Practical Nursing
Southeastern Community College, West Burlington
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$20,600Price if you pay yourself$9,625Program website, Practical Nursing at Southeastern Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing at Southeastern Community College
- Finished
- 51%
- Working at 6 months
- 87%
- Earned in a quarter
- $5,151
- Length
- 40 weeks, 29 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,279
- Students counted
- 378
- a year, estimated
- $20,600
- price
- $9,625
Practical Nursing
Northwest Iowa Community College, Sheldon
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$22,600Price if you pay yourself$8,237Program website, Practical Nursing at Northwest Iowa Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing at Northwest Iowa Community College
- Finished
- 55%
- Working at 6 months
- 87%
- Earned in a quarter
- $5,662
- Length
- 48 weeks, 23 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,258
- Students counted
- 265
- a year, estimated
- $22,600
- price
- $8,237
Practical Nursing
Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa
Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimated$28,900Price if you pay yourself$15,873Program website, Practical Nursing at Indian Hills Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing at Indian Hills Community College
- Finished
- 48%
- Working at 6 months
- 87%
- Earned in a quarter
- $7,225
- Length
- 48 weeks, 12 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- None listed
- Students counted
- 254
- a year, estimated
- $28,900
- price
- $15,873
Practical Nursing
Southwestern Community College, Creston
No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$22,600Price if you pay yourself$7,410Program website, Practical Nursing at Southwestern Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing at Southwestern Community College
- Finished
- 61%
- Working at 6 months
- 88%
- Earned in a quarter
- $5,641
- Length
- 39 weeks, 26 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,557
- Students counted
- 247
- a year, estimated
- $22,600
- price
- $7,410
Practical Nursing
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Davenport
Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimated$33,100Price if you pay yourself$8,789Program website, Practical Nursing at Eastern Iowa Community CollegesMore details about Practical Nursing at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
- Finished
- 58%
- Working at 6 months
- 93%
- Earned in a quarter
- $8,273
- Length
- 40 weeks, 16 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,840
- Students counted
- 215
- a year, estimated
- $33,100
- price
- $8,789
Practical Nursing - Diploma
Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$22,400Price if you pay yourself$7,272Program website, Practical Nursing - Diploma at Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing - Diploma at Western Iowa Tech Community College
- Finished
- 33%
- Working at 6 months
- 87%
- Earned in a quarter
- $5,600
- Length
- 32 weeks, 25 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $794
- Students counted
- 144
- a year, estimated
- $22,400
- price
- $7,272
Practical Nursing (E/MVLPN) CIP: 513901.0100 ITSO: 03.02.11.03
Iowa Valley Community College District, Marshalltown
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$21,300Price if you pay yourself$10,992Program website, Practical Nursing (E/MVLPN) CIP: 513901.0100 ITSO: 03.02.11.03 at Iowa Valley Community College DistrictMore details about Practical Nursing (E/MVLPN) CIP: 513901.0100 ITSO: 03.02.11.03 at Iowa Valley Community College District
- Finished
- 76%
- Working at 6 months
- 84%
- Earned in a quarter
- $5,315
- Length
- 37 weeks, 24 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,548
- Students counted
- 110
- a year, estimated
- $21,300
- price
- $10,992
Practical Nursing Diploma
North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City
Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$49,700Price if you pay yourself$9,706Program website, Practical Nursing Diploma at North Iowa Area Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing Diploma at North Iowa Area Community College
- Finished
- 60%
- Working at 6 months
- 98%
- Earned in a quarter
- $12,426
- Length
- 38 weeks, 26 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $2,801
- Students counted
- 94
- a year, estimated
- $49,700
- price
- $9,706
Practical Nursing
Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville
High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$26,100Price if you pay yourself$10,402Program website, Practical Nursing at Iowa Lakes Community CollegeMore details about Practical Nursing at Iowa Lakes Community College
- Finished
- 54%
- Working at 6 months
- 90%
- Earned in a quarter
- $6,532
- Length
- 42 weeks, 16 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- None listed
- Students counted
- 69
- a year, estimated
- $26,100
- price
- $10,402
Diploma in Nursing (LPN)
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids
Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimatedNot reportedPrice if you pay yourself$9,660Program website, Diploma in Nursing (LPN) at Kirkwood Community CollegeMore details about Diploma in Nursing (LPN) at Kirkwood Community College
- Finished
- Not reported
- Working at 6 months
- Not reported
- Earned in a quarter
- Not reported
- Length
- 64 weeks, 20 hours a week
- Cost of supplies
- $5,000
- Students counted
- Not reported
- a year, estimated
- Not reported
- price
- $9,660
No programs match these filters.
How to pay for LPN programs in Iowa
Workforce funding can pay for LPN programs in Iowa
Every program on this page is approved for public workforce funding, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It can pay for training for eligible adults, people who lost their job and young people.2People on public assistance, with a low income or lacking basic skills come first, and veterans have priority.3
Ask at an American Job Center
Eligibility rules apply, and services vary from state to state. Your local American Job Center can tell you whether you qualify. The Department of Labor's page links to the center finder, or call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).4
Financial aid and grants for LPN 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.56
GI Bill for LPN programs
Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.7
The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.
Where the Iowa practical nursing program numbers come from
Which Iowa practical nursing programs are on this list?
These are the practical nursing programs Iowa approved for public workforce funding (the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). The list 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 Iowa practical nursing program prices are reported
The price is tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported it. Prices under $100 are treated as not reported, because the file holds many blanks entered as $0. Check the current price with the school.
What the graduate results of these programs measure
The figures at the top of this page are the middle program among those that report results: half did better, half did worse. Results describe students who left each program in recent years: the share who finished, the share working in the second quarter after leaving, and the middle earnings of those working in that quarter. States report earnings for that one quarter because they take them from the wage reports employers file every three months. The yearly figure here is that quarter times four, rounded to the nearest $100: an estimate, and an early one, since it is measured about half a year after training. The quarter as reported is under "More details" on each program. Results are withheld for small programs, and they describe past students, so they are no guarantee.
Why do some practical nursing programs say "Not reported"?
Where a school or the state left a field empty, or the Department of Labor withheld it, the page says "Not reported". Nothing here is estimated to fill a gap.
Why the kind of school is left off each program
The file also records whether a school is public, private or nonprofit, but those entries are wrong too often to print next to a school's name, so this page leaves them out.
Sources for the facts about LPN programs in Iowa
Show the 7 sourcesHide the sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
- US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs