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Best Trade Schools in Iowa

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2023 Best Trade Schools in Iowa

26 Schools Ranked
$42,787 Average Earnings
$25,287 Avg Student Debt

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.

The Best Trade Schools in Iowa ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 26 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa
919 Total Awards

Our analysis found Waldorf University to be the best school for trade school students in Iowa. Waldorf is located in Forest City, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 919 degrees to qualified students.

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#2

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa
8,469 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. This large public school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 8,469 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Iowa State University

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
2,755 Total Awards

The excellent programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Iowa. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 2,755 degrees in 2021-2022.

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356 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Northwest Iowa Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Iowa. Located in Sheldon, Iowa, the small public school awarded 356 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Northwest Iowa Community College

#5

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
523 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Orange City, Iowa, and it awarded 523 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Northwestern College Report

#6

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
499 Total Awards

Luther College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Decorah, Iowa, and it awarded 499 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Luther College

#7

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
9,271 Total Awards

University of Iowa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 9,271 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Iowa

#8

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
1,328 Total Awards

Upper Iowa University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. UIU is located in Fayette, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,328 degrees to qualified students.

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#9

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa
925 Total Awards

Hawkeye Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Hawkeye Community College is a small public school located in Waterloo, Iowa that handed out 925 degrees in 2021-2022.

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596 Total Awards

Northeast Iowa Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. NICC is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 596 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Northeast Iowa Community College Report

903 Total Awards

North Iowa Area Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This small public school is located in Mason City, Iowa, and it awarded 903 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Report

#12

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
767 Total Awards

Southeastern Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. West Burlington, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 767 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Southeastern Community College

1,848 Total Awards

With a ranking of #13, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,848 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Report

459 Total Awards

Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lamoni, Iowa, and it awarded 459 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Graceland University - Lamoni Report

#15

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, Iowa
1,134 Total Awards

Iowa Central Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. Fort Dodge, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,134 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Iowa Central Community College

4,028 Total Awards

Des Moines Area Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Des Moines Area Community College is a large public school located in Ankeny, Iowa that handed out 4,028 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Report

#17

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
590 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Mount Mercy University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 590 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Mount Mercy University

#18

Ross College-Quad Cities

Davenport, Iowa
36 Total Awards

Ross College-Quad Cities ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 36 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Ross College-Quad Cities Report

#19

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2,365 Total Awards

Kirkwood Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,365 students in 2021-2022.

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#20

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa
1,407 Total Awards

With a ranking of #20, Iowa Western Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,407 degrees to qualified students.

Full Iowa Western Community College Report

735 Total Awards

Indian Hills Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. IHCC is a public institution located in Ottumwa, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 735 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#22

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
582 Total Awards

University of Dubuque ranked #22 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Iowa list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 582 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Dubuque

#23

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa
435 Total Awards

Marshalltown Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. This small public school is located in Marshalltown, Iowa, and it awarded 435 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#24

Clarke University

Dubuque, Iowa
264 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, Clarke University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 264 degrees in 2021-2022.

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1,143 Total Awards

Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 1,143 degrees in 2021-2022.

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View Best Trade Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 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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