Iowa · Practical Nursing

Best Practical Nursing institutions in Iowa, ranked by earnings

The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…

Institutions
15
offering CIP 51.39
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
3,679
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$33,043
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Nursing Assistants
$40,590
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 4 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Eastern Iowa Community College District
Davenport Public · Certificate degree
$45,66228245%$19,835
2Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny Public · Certificate degree
$34,3901,63739%$11,625
3Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs Public · Certificate degree
$33,04315540%$18,000
4Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City Public · Certificate degree
$29,34855350%$14,499

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+2.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~204,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$39,530
typically Postsecondary nondegree award

Top skills

Active ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Nursing Assistants earn in Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
22,970
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$40,590
median $38,630
Best-paying metro
$42,460
Dubuque, IA

Related careers

Nursing Assistants
$40,590 avg · 22,970 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$59,640 avg · 5,520 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Iowa.

Which Practical Nursing program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Eastern Iowa Community College District tops the list at $45,662. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Iowa is $40,590 (median $38,630), across about 22,970 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+

The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+

The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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