15 schools · Iowa
Auto and diesel mechanic schools in Iowa
15 schools in Iowa offer auto and diesel mechanic programs (15 of them public), with 14 certificate and 15 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $45,193 a year after finishing, compared with $42,072 nationally.
All auto and diesel mechanic programs in Iowa
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Certificate | 45 | $56,801 | $62,240 | $6,500 | $7,050 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 17 | $56,294 | $49,675 | n/a | $5,232 |
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 77 | $55,522 | $63,673 | $8,730 | $6,030 |
| Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldon, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 17 | $54,706 | $61,907 | n/a | $7,500 |
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 29 | $53,320 | $62,400 | $10,250 | $7,050 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 19 | $53,200 | $61,486 | n/a | $6,288 |
| North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 19 | $47,129 | $54,985 | n/a | $6,803 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 32 | $45,462 | $58,259 | $11,000 | $7,050 |
| Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA | Community college | Certificate | 20 | $45,193 | $59,939 | n/a | $7,020 |
| Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 24 | $45,184 | $62,817 | $10,102 | $6,786 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 18 | $43,950 | $52,659 | n/a | $5,306 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 85 | $42,099 | $51,446 | $5,500 | $5,306 |
| Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldon, IA | Community college | Certificate | 15 | n/a | $61,481 | n/a | $7,500 |
| Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | $51,598 | n/a | $7,616 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | $48,907 | n/a | $6,660 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 47 | n/a | $45,988 | n/a | $5,016 |
| Southwestern Community CollegeCreston, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 26 | n/a | $44,261 | n/a | $8,352 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | $39,938 | n/a | $5,232 |
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 70 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,030 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,016 |
| Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA | Community college | Certificate | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,786 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA | Community college | Certificate | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,050 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Certificate | 92 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,288 |
| Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,664 |
| Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,664 |
| North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,803 |
| Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,020 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,660 |
| Southwestern Community CollegeCreston, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $8,352 |
Cities with the most programs: Council Bluffs (1), Ottumwa (1), Ankeny (1), Sheldon (1), Cedar Rapids (1), Mason City (1), Fort Dodge (1), Calmar (1), Waterloo (1), Sioux City (1), Estherville (1), West Burlington (1).
What counts: vehicle maintenance and repair: auto, diesel, collision, small engine and motorcycle.
Frequently asked questions
How many auto and diesel mechanic schools are in Iowa?
15 schools in Iowa awarded auto and diesel mechanic certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 14 certificate and 15 associate programs.
Which auto and diesel mechanic program in Iowa has the highest earnings?
Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, where certificate graduates earned a median of $56,801 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest auto and diesel mechanic school in Iowa?
By yearly tuition and fees, Eastern Iowa Community College District in Davenport charges $5,016 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do auto and diesel mechanic graduates make in Iowa?
The typical certificate program in Iowa reported median earnings of $45,193 one year after graduation and $51,446 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in Iowa: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Auto and diesel mechanic schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.