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Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa

2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa

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

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 13 schools in Iowa to see which ones had the most popular online programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa
919 Total Awards
$52,483 Average Earnings
$21,278 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Waldorf University to be the most popular school for trade school students in Iowa. This small private for-profit school is located in Forest City, Iowa, and it awarded 919 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $21,278 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Waldorf graduates make an average of $52,483 annually. Around 38% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Waldorf University Report

1,143 Total Awards
$35,028 Average Earnings
$15,064 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Eastern Iowa Community College District. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa list. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a public institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,143 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $15,064 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,028 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

Full Eastern Iowa Community College District Report

735 Total Awards
$43,385 Average Earnings
$14,356 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Indian Hills Community College is a great place for trade school students. IHCC is located in Ottumwa, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 735 degrees to qualified students.

Degree recipients from IHCC accumulate an average of $14,356 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, IHCC graduates make an average of $43,385 annually. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Indian Hills Community College Report

#4

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
1,328 Total Awards
$45,288 Average Earnings
$30,575 Avg Student Debt

The programs at Upper Iowa University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Iowa. Upper Iowa University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 1,328 degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,575 in student loans. During the early years of their career, UIU graduates make an average of $45,288 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.

Full Upper Iowa University Report

356 Total Awards
$48,199 Average Earnings
$9,876 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Iowa Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa list. Located in Sheldon, Iowa, the small public school awarded 356 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,876 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates make an average of $48,199 annually. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Report

404 Total Awards
$47,534 Average Earnings
$20,070 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #6, Mercy College of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 404 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $20,070 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $411.After graduating from Mercy College of Health Sciences, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,534 during the early years of their career. Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Mercy College of Health Sciences Report

#7

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2,365 Total Awards
$38,090 Average Earnings
$15,926 Avg Student Debt

Kirkwood Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This fairly large public school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 2,365 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $15,926 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $68. Once they receive their degree, Kirkwood Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,090 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.

Read full report on Kirkwood Community College

#8

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, Iowa
1,134 Total Awards
$39,705 Average Earnings
$16,754 Avg Student Debt

Iowa Central Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,134 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College accumulate an average of $16,754 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $68 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Iowa Central Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,705 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.

Full Iowa Central Community College Report

#8

Allen College

Waterloo, Iowa
253 Total Awards
$64,491 Average Earnings
$47,927 Avg Student Debt

Allen College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 253 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $47,927 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Allen College graduates make an average of $64,491 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.

Read full report on Allen College

459 Total Awards
$54,336 Average Earnings
$30,887 Avg Student Debt

Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Iowa list. Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lamoni, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 459 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from Graceland Lamoni accumulate an average of $30,887 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Graceland Lamoni graduates make an average of $54,336 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.

Full Graceland University - Lamoni Report

#10

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa
767 Total Awards
$35,945 Average Earnings
$14,116 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #10, Southeastern Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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.

Degree recipients from Southeastern Community College accumulate an average of $14,116 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Southeastern Community College graduates make an average of $35,945 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#12

St Luke's College

Sioux City, Iowa
85 Total Awards
$50,066 Average Earnings
$17,386 Avg Student Debt

St Luke’s College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. St Luke’s College is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 85 degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,386 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, St Luke’s College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,066 during the early year of their career. Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#12

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, Iowa
311 Total Awards
$31,031 Average Earnings
$15,383 Avg Student Debt

Iowa Lakes Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #12 on the list. Iowa Lakes Community College is a small public school located in Estherville, Iowa that handed out 311 degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,383 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Iowa Lakes Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,031 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.

Full Iowa Lakes Community College Report

Most Popular Online Trade School Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.

References

  • 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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