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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 analysis found Hawkeye Community College to be the best school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Iowa. Hawkeye Community College is a small public school located in Waterloo, Iowa that handed out 81 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,090 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Hawkeye Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,583.

One thing to take note of is that Hawkeye Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

328 Total Awards
$6,196 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at North Iowa Area Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Iowa. North Iowa Area Community College is a public institution located in Mason City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 328 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at North Iowa Area Community College is $6,196. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,884.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at North Iowa Area Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

965 Total Awards
$4,922 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 9 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 965 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $4,922 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $4,946.

Western Iowa Tech Community College 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.

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. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 1,607 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

One thing to take note of is that DMACC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 50% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Des Moines Area Community College

#5

Southeastern Community College

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

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Southeastern Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Located in West Burlington, Iowa, the small public school awarded 249 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Southeastern Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to 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.

Full Southeastern Community College Report

#6

Kirkwood Community College

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

Kirkwood Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Kirkwood Community College is a public institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 318 basic certificates in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $5,700 in tuition and fees if they attend Kirkwood Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,604.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Kirkwood Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. 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. Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 321 basic certificates 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. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,690.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Iowa Western Community College. In 2020-2021 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Iowa Western Community College Report

49 Total Awards

Indian Hills Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the small public school handed out 49 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.

Some students may be able to take online classes at IHCC. In fact, around 36% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Full Indian Hills Community College Report

149 Total Awards

Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Davenport, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 149 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Eastern Iowa Community College District

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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