2027 Best Construction Trades Schools in Iowa
Construction Trades degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their construction trades programs.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best construction trades schools.
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Best Schools for Construction Trades in Iowa
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the construction trades degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Construction Trades
No school ranked higher than Western Iowa Tech Community College this year for construction trades. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 74 construction trades degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,556. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans.
See the full construction trades program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College
A rank of #2 makes Northwest Iowa Community College one of the top schools for construction trades. Set in the town of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Northwest Iowa Community College awarded about 97 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Northwest Iowa Community College earn around $78,118 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Read more about the construction trades program at Northwest Iowa Community College
Marshalltown Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 55 construction trades degrees were awarded at Marshalltown Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $43,768 in their early career. Marshalltown Community College graduates carry a median of $6,837 in student loans.
Read more about the construction trades program at Marshalltown Community College
A rank of #4 makes Des Moines Area Community College one of the top schools for construction trades. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 60 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $34,421 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,956.
Get the full construction trades details for Des Moines Area Community College
Students looking for a strong construction trades program will find one at Southwestern Community College Creston, which ranked #5. This small public university is located in the town of Creston. There were roughly 114 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Community College Creston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Southwestern Community College Creston earn around $46,106 in the first couple years of their career. Southwestern Community College Creston graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Southwestern Community College Creston
Iowa Central Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 50 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $39,624. Students borrow a median of $16,135 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at Iowa Central Community College
North Iowa Area Community College earned the #7 position for construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 37 construction trades degrees were awarded at North Iowa Area Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $44,466. Typical student debt for the program is $12,043.
See the full construction trades program report for North Iowa Area Community College
Iowa Lakes Community College placed #8 among the best construction trades schools. Set in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Lakes Community College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Iowa Lakes Community College earn a median of $46,937 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,876.
Get the full construction trades details for Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa Western Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best construction trades schools. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 35 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Students borrow a median of $15,153 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Iowa Western Community College
Kirkwood Community College earned the #10 position for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. About 36 construction trades degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $41,681 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete this degree.
See the full construction trades program report for Kirkwood Community College
Southeastern Community College West Burlington placed #11 among the best construction trades schools. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. Southeastern Community College West Burlington awarded about 20 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn around $45,760 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,126 to complete this degree.
See the full construction trades program report for Southeastern Community College West Burlington
More Construction Trades Rankings
View All Construction Trades Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
