15 schools · Iowa
LPN and CNA programs in Iowa
15 schools in Iowa offer LPN and CNA programs (15 of them public), with 15 certificate and 0 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $45,478 a year after finishing, compared with $49,356 nationally.
All LPN and CNA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa Falls, IA | Community college | Certificate | 20 | $54,956 | n/a | $7,660 | $5,664 |
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 1,637 | $45,478 | $40,673 | $12,167 | $6,030 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 553 | $36,173 | $54,239 | $9,500 | $5,306 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Certificate | 147 | n/a | $72,932 | n/a | $6,288 |
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Certificate | 155 | n/a | $72,759 | $11,000 | $7,050 |
| Southwestern Community CollegeCreston, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 67 | n/a | $69,271 | $7,945 | $8,352 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWest Burlington, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 279 | n/a | $67,153 | $11,000 | $6,660 |
| Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldon, IA | Community college | Certificate | 37 | n/a | $63,862 | $8,750 | $7,500 |
| Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA | Community college | Certificate | 62 | n/a | $62,601 | $10,011 | $7,020 |
| Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IA | Community college | Certificate | 30 | n/a | $62,131 | $7,725 | $5,664 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Certificate | 22 | n/a | $61,021 | $10,500 | $5,232 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA | Community college | Certificate | 230 | n/a | $60,665 | $9,500 | $7,050 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 282 | n/a | $50,497 | $12,250 | $5,016 |
| Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville, IA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,616 |
| North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 145 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,803 |
Cities with the most programs: Iowa Falls (1), Ankeny (1), Sioux City (1), Cedar Rapids (1), Council Bluffs (1), Creston (1), West Burlington (1), Sheldon (1), Calmar (1), Marshalltown (1), Ottumwa (1), Fort Dodge (1).
What counts: practical and vocational nursing (LPN, LVN) and nursing assistants (CNA).
Frequently asked questions
How many LPN and CNA programs are in Iowa?
15 schools in Iowa awarded LPN and CNA certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 15 certificate and 0 associate programs.
Which LPN and CNA program in Iowa has the highest earnings?
Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, where certificate graduates earned a median of $54,956 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest LPN and CNA 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 LPN and CNA graduates make in Iowa?
The typical certificate program in Iowa reported median earnings of $45,478 one year after graduation and $62,366 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 · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
LPN and CNA programs 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.