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Home / Trade schools / Iowa
Trade schools in Iowa
College Scorecard lists 16 schools in Iowa that graduated students in electrical, HVAC, plumbing or construction programs in the latest year: 9 electrical, 11 HVAC, 4 plumbing, 5 construction management.1
| School | City | Programs | Credential | Type | Completers | Tuition | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Plumbing, HVAC, Construction management | Certificate, Associate | Public | 141 | $6,288 | $18,463 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | Public | 87 | $7,500 | $18,827 |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | Public | 85 | $5,664 | $14,473 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Construction management | Certificate, Associate | Public | 85 | $7,050 | $21,692 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC | Certificate | Public | 73 | $5,306 | $14,800 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | Construction management | Bachelor's | Public | 49 | $10,201 | $22,977 |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston | Electrical | Associate, Certificate | Public | 48 | $8,352 | $21,059 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | Public | 43 | $7,050 | $19,280 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | Public | 36 | $7,020 | $18,430 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | Public | 30 | $6,030 | $12,609 |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City | HVAC | Associate, Certificate | Public | 18 | $6,803 | $15,733 |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | HVAC | Certificate | Public | 15 | $6,786 | $20,986 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | HVAC | Certificate | Public | 10 | $5,016 | $18,295 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Electrical, HVAC | Associate, Certificate | Public | 9 | $7,616 | $17,373 |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | HVAC, Construction management | Certificate, Associate | Public | 6 | $5,232 | $18,926 |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Construction management | Bachelor's | Nonprofit | 3 | $38,040 | $53,336 |
Construction trades (CIP 46.04) covers carpentry, masonry, roofing and other building trades together. Tuition: in-state tuition for a year, or program tuition at schools that bill by program. Cost a year: average cost of attendance at the school.
Which trade schools in Iowa graduate the most students?
Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids had the most completers in these programs in the latest year, 141, then Northwest Iowa Community College with 87.1
How much does trade school cost in Iowa?
Public schools on the list charge a median $6,803 a year in in-state tuition.1
Certificate or associate degree?
14 of the 16 schools offer a certificate in these trades and 11 offer an associate degree.1 A certificate is the shorter credential; an associate degree adds general education courses.
What is the highest-paying trade in Iowa?
Of the five trades on this site, general contractors have the highest median pay in Iowa, $37.75 an hour.2
| Trade | Median hourly | Schools | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractors | $37.75 | 5 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| Plumbers | $30.72 | 4 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| Electricians | $29.26 | 9 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| HVAC Technicians | $29.17 | 11 | Schools · Salary · Apprenticeships |
| Roofers | $23.39 | 0 | Salary · Apprenticeships |
Pick a trade in Iowa
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (field of study and institution data) (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Iowa, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)