Vocational Trade Schools in Iowa

More students are choosing to pursue trade degrees. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, enrollment in trade schools increased 56% between 2013 and 2018. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 74% of students who earn an occupational credential earn a trade job in the field they study.

Trade schools benefit students who want to quickly enter the workforce. Vocational schools teach learners the skills they need to work in a vocational role, placing more emphasis on job functions rather than theory. While a traditional four-year degree typically covers multiple subjects and requires general education courses, a trade degree focuses on one topic.

Examples of trade school programs include welding, plumbing, and medical assisting.

On average, an associate trade degree takes about two years to complete. However, students who pursue a certificate may finish their studies sooner.

People who enjoy practical work often enjoy trade school. Most trade schools in Iowa allow students to complete apprenticeships or internships, which include supervised fieldwork. Most apprenticeships pay salaries.

Read on to learn more about how trade school can benefit students, scholarships reserved specifically for trade students, and how to select a trade school.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Finding the right trade school takes time. To help in the process, we create and regularly update this list of the top tech schools in Iowa. We rank these institutions based on factors like affordability and graduate success rates.

Tech schools in Iowa include medical trade schools, cosmetology schools, criminology schools, and welding schools.

Most four-year universities accept credits from accredited trade schools. Many colleges allow transfer students to build upon an associate degree and work toward a bachelor’s degree.

These two terms are interchangeable. Trade schools and technical schools offer the same types of degrees and certificates.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physical therapists earned a median annual salary of $99,710 in 2023.

Students researching vocational schools in Iowa should pay attention to accreditation status. Trade colleges can earn regional, national, or programmatic accreditation. When a school earns accreditation, it regularly receives quality assessments from a third-party organization.

Accreditation benefits students by ensuring that educational institutions uphold certain academic standards. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation oversee accrediting agencies.

Certain employers may view degrees from regionally accredited schools as the most prestigious, and some scholarship committees reserve their awards specifically for students who attend regionally accredited schools.

The Higher Learning Commission grants regional accreditation to vocational schools in Iowa. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges is one of the top national accrediting agencies specifically for trade schools. Online trade schools can earn national accreditation from organizations like the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

Individual degrees can also earn programmatic accreditation. For example, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care oversees accreditation for respiratory care programs.

Along with accreditation, vocational schools must also maintain a license to continue offering degrees to students. Prospective students can check a school’s accreditation status by using the ED’s database.

Career and technical education (CTE) programs in Iowa are organized within six key service areas: agriculture, family and consumer sciences, health occupations, business, industrial technology, and marketing.

The Iowa Department of Education requires that CTE programs include a work-based learning component like job shadowing, rotations, mentoring, internships, service learning, or apprenticeships.

Use the search tool below to find vocational and trade schools in Iowa that are the right match for you.

Career and salary outlook vary greatly between occupations. According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for all trade school occupations in 2023 was $68,480.

Each industry offers different salary potential. For example, the BLS reports that welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earned a median annual salary of $48,940 in 2023 and benefit from a projected job growth rate of 2% between 2023 and 2033. The BLS also reports that electricians earned a median annual salary of $61,590 in 2023 and will benefit from a projected job growth rate of 11% from 2023-2033.

Salary also depends on experience. For example, according to PayScale, entry-level radiologic technicians earn an average annual salary of $51,750, while radiologic technicians with more than 20 years of experience earn an average salary of $60,130 per year.

Geographic location also influences salaries For example, employers in Des Moines may pay more than employers in small rural towns. However, professionals who work in high-need areas like small towns may qualify for federal loan forgiveness.

Different trade schools focus on specific programs, so individuals must choose a school that aligns with their specific career goals. Trade schools offer programs in fields like health and emergency services, auto repair, and cosmetology.

Read on to learn about typical courses, job outcomes, and salary potential for dental hygienist, mechanic, paralegal, and radiology technician schools.

Trade schools accept funds from the FAFSA. This application takes first-time applicants about 55 minutes to complete and returning applicants 45 minutes to complete.

This application requires financial information for need-based funds. Applicants who file their taxes as dependents must enter their guardian’s tax information.

The FAFSA provides subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, and grants. Grants and subsidized loans require that applicants demonstrate financial need.

Students do not need to pay back grants, but they must pay back subsidized loans. Subsidized loans do not begin collecting interest until after the recipient graduates or stops maintaining enrollment. These loans do not require repayment until six months after graduation.

Unsubsidized loans are not need-based, but they begin accruing interest immediately once the recipient accepts the funds. Like subsidized loans, these loans do not require repayment until after a six-month grace period after graduation.

Federal loans and grants can make attending vocational school possible. In the section below, we highlight how scholarships can also provide financial assistance for students attending trade schools in Iowa.​

Read on for a small sample of scholarships available to trade school students in Iowa.

TRADE AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS