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Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Iowa

2023 Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Iowa

9 Schools Ranked
$5,943 Avg Tuition & Fees*

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Iowa to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 9 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
81 Total Awards
$6,090 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Hawkeye Community College the best school in Iowa for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, the small public school awarded 81 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Hawkeye Community College is $6,090. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,583.

Online courses are available at Hawkeye Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 44% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

328 Total Awards
$6,196 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means North Iowa Area Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 328 students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at North Iowa Area Community College is $6,196. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,884.

One thing to take note of is that North Iowa Area Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 83% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on North Iowa Area Community College

965 Total Awards
$4,922 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Western Iowa Tech Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Iowa. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 965 students in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Western Iowa Tech Community College is $4,922. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,946.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Report

1,607 Total Awards

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Des Moines Area Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This large public school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 1,607 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

DMACC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 50% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#5

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
249 Total Awards
$6,210 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 9 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Southeastern Community College is located in West Burlington, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 249 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Southeastern Community College is $6,210. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,360.

Southeastern Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Southeastern Community College

#6

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
318 Total Awards
$5,700 Average Tuition & Fees

Kirkwood Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 318 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Kirkwood Community College is $5,700. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,604.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Kirkwood Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Kirkwood Community College

#7

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
321 Total Awards
$6,540 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Iowa Western Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the medium-sized public school handed out 321 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,540 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Iowa Western Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,690.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Iowa Western Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Iowa Western Community College Report

49 Total Awards

Indian Hills Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Indian Hills Community College is a small public school located in Ottumwa, Iowa that handed out 49 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

IHCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 36% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

149 Total Awards

Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Davenport, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 149 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

One thing to take note of is that Eastern Iowa Community Colleges does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Eastern Iowa Community College District Report

Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

View Best Trade Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 9 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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