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2026 Best Trade Schools in Iowa
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Iowa? Our ranking highlights 75 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated 69 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Iowa
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Waldorf College to be the best Trade school in Iowa. This private for-profit school is set in Forest City, IA. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $25,978 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $24,622 in student loans. More on Waldorf College
A rank of #2 makes Iowa State University one of the top choices in Iowa. Located in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $23,495. Read the full report on Iowa State University
Out of the 69 schools in Iowa in this year's ranking, University Of Northern Iowa landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Cedar Falls, IA. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Typical Trade student debt is $22,635. Get the full University Of Northern Iowa report
The strong Trade programs at Northwest Iowa Community College earned it the #4 place in Iowa. Set in Sheldon, IA, Northwest Iowa Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, compared with $7,650 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $12,271. Get the full Northwest Iowa Community College report
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #5 on this year's Trade ranking in Iowa. Northwestern College Iowa is a private not-for-profit school based in Orange City, IA. Northwestern College Iowa graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Typical Trade student debt is $25,415. See the full Northwestern College Iowa profile
Luther College landed the #6 spot in Iowa this year. Based in Decorah, IA, Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,120. Graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans. See the full Luther College profile
University Of Iowa placed #7 among Trade schools in Iowa. University Of Iowa is a public school based in Iowa City, IA. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Get the full University Of Iowa report
Upper Iowa University landed the #8 spot in Iowa this year. Based in Fayette, IA, Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. The median Trade program debt is $34,059. More on Upper Iowa University
Hawkeye Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Waterloo, IA, Hawkeye Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,525 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical Trade student debt is $17,001. Read more about Hawkeye Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Calmar, IA, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. The median Trade program debt is $14,348. Get the full Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar report
North Iowa Area Community College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Mason City, IA, North Iowa Area Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,653 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. North Iowa Area Community College Trade students take on a median of $12,043 in debt. Read the full report on North Iowa Area Community College
Southeastern Community College West Burlington did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in West Burlington, IA. In-state tuition and fees average $6,420, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Southeastern Community College West Burlington Trade students take on a median of $16,126 in debt. Read more about Southeastern Community College West Burlington
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #13 spot in Iowa this year. Set in Sioux City, IA, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. The median Trade program debt is $11,886. Get the full Western Iowa Tech Community College report
Graceland University Lamoni ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Lamoni, IA, Graceland University Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $19,848. Graceland University Lamoni Trade students take on a median of $27,509 in debt. More on Graceland University Lamoni
Iowa Central Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Fort Dodge, IA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, while out-of-state students pay about $7,788. The median Trade program debt is $16,135. Read more about Iowa Central Community College
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Ankeny, IA, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Des Moines Area Community College
Mount Mercy University placed #17 among Trade schools in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedar Rapids, IA. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,878. Mount Mercy University Trade students take on a median of $27,709 in debt. Get the full Mount Mercy University report
Brown Mackie College Quad Cities placed #18 among Trade schools in Iowa. Located in Davenport, IA, Brown Mackie College Quad Cities is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $11,536 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about Brown Mackie College Quad Cities
Kirkwood Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Cedar Rapids, IA, Kirkwood Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Kirkwood Community College Trade students take on a median of $15,779 in debt. See the full Kirkwood Community College profile
Iowa Western Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Council Bluffs, IA, Iowa Western Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $7,080. The median Trade program debt is $15,153. Read more about Iowa Western Community College
Indian Hills Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Indian Hills Community College is a public school based in Ottumwa, IA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Graduates carry a median of $15,390 in student loans. Read more about Indian Hills Community College
University Of Dubuque did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Dubuque, IA, University Of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $42,095 in tuition and fees. Typical Trade student debt is $27,204. Get the full University Of Dubuque report
Marshalltown Community College placed #23 among Trade schools in Iowa. Located in Marshalltown, IA, Marshalltown Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $11,577 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Marshalltown Community College profile
Clarke University landed the #24 spot in Iowa this year. Located in Dubuque, IA, Clarke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $40,910. The median Trade program debt is $26,895. Read more about Clarke University
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Davenport, IA, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Eastern Iowa Community College District Trade students take on a median of $15,995 in debt. Read the full report on Eastern Iowa Community College District
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Iowa
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Iowa Lakes Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Estherville, IA, Iowa Lakes Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,392, while out-of-state students pay about $7,872. Graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans. Read more about Iowa Lakes Community College
Saint Ambrose University landed the #27 spot in Iowa this year. Get the full Saint Ambrose University report
La James International College Davenport came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Get the full La James International College Davenport report
Mercy College Of Health Sciences landed the #29 spot in Iowa this year. See the full Mercy College Of Health Sciences profile
Coe College
Coe College placed #30 among Trade schools in Iowa. Read the full report on Coe College
Grand View University came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Grand View University
Drake University
Drake University did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Drake University report
Dordt College
Dordt College landed the #33 spot in Iowa this year. Read more about Dordt College
Wartburg Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on Wartburg Theological Seminary
Hamilton Technical College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Hamilton Technical College report
Allen College
Allen College landed the #36 spot in Iowa this year. Read more about Allen College
Carlson College Of Massage Therapy came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Get the full Carlson College Of Massage Therapy report
Pci Academy Ames
Pci Academy Ames landed the #38 spot in Iowa this year. Get the full Pci Academy Ames report
Buena Vista University placed #39 among Trade schools in Iowa. Read the full report on Buena Vista University
Pci Academy Iowa City landed the #40 spot in Iowa this year. See the full Pci Academy Iowa City profile
Central College
Central College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on Central College
Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary
Capri College Cedar Rapids ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Capri College Cedar Rapids
The Salon Professional Academy Cedar Falls did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full The Salon Professional Academy Cedar Falls profile
Unitypoint Health Des Moines School Of Radiologic Technology came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about Unitypoint Health Des Moines School Of Radiologic Technology
E Q School Of Hair Design did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on E Q School Of Hair Design
St Lukes College
St Lukes College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read the full report on St Lukes College
La James International College Ft Dodge ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full La James International College Ft Dodge report
Briar Cliff University landed the #49 spot in Iowa this year. See the full Briar Cliff University profile
Capri College Davenport did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on Capri College Davenport
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 69 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 75 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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