Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Eastern Iowa Community College District, Des Moines Area Community College and Iowa Western Community College are the top Practical Nursing programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Eastern Iowa Community College District leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,662, College Scorecard. Des Moines Area Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College and Eastern Iowa Community College District award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Iowa: 1,748, 536 and 351 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Iowa colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 4,095 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 4 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public · Certificate | $45,662 | 351 | 45% | — | $19,835 |
| 2 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Certificate | $34,390 | 1,748 | 39% | — | $11,625 |
| 3 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public · Certificate | $33,043 | 188 | 40% | — | $18,000 |
| 4 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public · Certificate | $29,348 | 536 | 50% | — | $14,499 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Iowa
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 1,748 | $34,390 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public | 536 | $29,348 |
| 3 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public | 351 | $45,662 |
| 4 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington Public | 336 | Not reported |
| 5 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Public | 308 | Not reported |
| 6 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public | 188 | $33,043 |
| 7 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public | 150 | Not reported |
| 8 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City Public | 125 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southwestern Community College Creston Public | 89 | Not reported |
| 10 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Public | 77 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Iowa colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | 64 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | Public | 46 |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | Public | 26 |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Public | 24 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | 17 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 10 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Des Moines Area Community College (1,748 graduates a year), Western Iowa Tech Community College (536 graduates a year) and Eastern Iowa Community College District (351 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Iowa colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Eastern Iowa Community College District leads among Practical Nursing programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,662, College Scorecard. Des Moines Area Community College and Iowa Western Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Des Moines Area Community College is the largest, with 1,748 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Eastern Iowa Community College District tops the list at $45,662. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $41,490 (median $39,350), across about 22,670 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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