Nursing Schools in Iowa (2026)

56 accredited nursing programs found

Nursing Schools

19 / 37

Public / Private

$6,687

Avg Public Tuition

54.2%

Avg Grad Rate

Iowa has 56 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with an unusually private-tilted split of 19 public and 37 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $22,026, with public schools averaging $6,687 and private schools averaging $34,170. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $6,436 to $35,960 — one of the wider tuition spreads of any state, reflecting the heavy private-college presence. The cheapest tracked program is Eastern Iowa Community College District at $4,680 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is Iowa State University at approximately 25,033.

Across Iowa programs the average graduation rate is 54.2 percent and the average retention rate is 70.7 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $43,462 and median federal debt at graduation averages $16,868. The state's healthcare employer base is anchored by University of Iowa Health Care, MercyOne, and UnityPoint Health, with smaller regional networks across the rural counties.

Registered Nurse Market in Iowa

BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses

+4% projected growth

10th Percentile

$51,050

Median

$66,940

90th Percentile

$87,600

Employment

33,440

Openings

193,100

Registered Nurse Salary in Iowa

Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024

Median Salary

$66,940

Mean Salary

$68,510

Entry Level (10th %)

$51,050

Experienced (90th %)

$87,600

RNs Employed: 33,440

vs National Median: -28% (below $93,600)

Job Growth (2023-2033): +4%

Average Tuition

$22,026

Matches the Iowa average of $22,026.

Graduation Rate

54.2%

0.0%

Matches the Iowa average of 54.2%.

Median Earnings

$43,462

Matches the Iowa median of $43,462.

Tuition Overview

Avg Public Tuition	$6,687
Lowest Tuition	$4,680
Highest Tuition	$52,576
Avg Private Tuition	$34,170

Student Outcomes

Avg Graduation Rate	54.2%
Avg Earnings After Grad	$45,810
Avg Student Debt	$16,868
Total Enrollment	127,348

Most Affordable Nursing Schools in Iowa

#1 Lowest

Eastern Iowa Community College District

$4,680

#2 Lowest

Indian Hills Community College

$4,872

#3 Lowest

Western Iowa Tech Community College

$5,042

#4 Lowest

Marshalltown Community College

$5,304

#5 Lowest

Ellsworth Community College

$5,304

Highest Graduation Rates in Iowa

#1 Grad Rate

La James International College-Cedar Falls

100.0%

#2 Grad Rate

Carlson College of Massage Therapy

100.0%

#3 Grad Rate

Capri College-Cedar Rapids

80.7%

#4 Grad Rate

Orion Technical College

80.5%

#5 Grad Rate

Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines

80.0%

All Nursing Schools in Iowa

Institution	City	Type	Tuition (In-State)	Grad Rate	Earnings After	Enrollment
Iowa State University	Ames	Public	$10,497	75.5%	$63,386	25,033
University of Iowa	Iowa City	Public	$10,964	73.1%	$64,762	21,691
Des Moines Area Community College	Ankeny	Public	$5,550	34.1%	$41,018	10,406
University of Northern Iowa	Cedar Falls	Public	$9,728	68.9%	$55,177	7,599
Kirkwood Community College	Cedar Rapids	Public	$5,980	40.5%	$41,016	7,438
Eastern Iowa Community College District	Davenport	Public	$4,680	34.3%	$39,060	3,244
Iowa Central Community College	Fort Dodge	Public	$5,376	44.0%	$42,046	3,107
Iowa Western Community College	Council Bluffs	Public	$6,780	40.1%	$42,793	3,029
Drake University	Des Moines	Private	$49,944	77.3%	$71,901	2,669
Western Iowa Tech Community College	Sioux City	Public	$5,042	40.2%	$40,473	2,589
Hawkeye Community College	Waterloo	Public	$6,308	31.5%	$42,849	2,528
Waldorf University	Forest City	For-Profit	$25,220	29.0%	$51,165	2,103
Saint Ambrose University	Davenport	Private	$35,598	62.8%	$59,531	2,101
Upper Iowa University	Fayette	Private	$19,000	41.5%	$52,766	2,021
Northeast Iowa Community College	Calmar	Public	$6,600	47.7%	$41,306	1,736
Indian Hills Community College	Ottumwa	Public	$4,872	40.4%	$40,507	1,635
Dordt University	Sioux Center	Private	$35,960	65.3%	$52,559	1,547
Southeastern Community College	West Burlington	Public	$6,300	43.3%	$36,882	1,529
University of Dubuque	Dubuque	Private	$40,065	41.0%	$51,190	1,473
Grand View University	Des Moines	Private	$33,450	55.8%	$52,824	1,472
Luther College	Decorah	Private	$50,320	75.0%	$59,850	1,454
Wartburg College	Waverly	Private	$51,040	66.8%	$56,201	1,446
William Penn University	Oskaloosa	Private	$28,750	29.2%	$48,936	1,391
Buena Vista University	Storm Lake	Private	$40,190	47.3%	$49,156	1,378
North Iowa Area Community College	Mason City	Public	$6,436	55.2%	$43,462	1,271
Coe College	Cedar Rapids	Private	$52,576	59.0%	$57,125	1,246
Morningside University	Sioux City	Private	$38,190	52.8%	$55,494	1,166
Mount Mercy University	Cedar Rapids	Private	$39,070	55.9%	$60,787	1,135
Simpson College	Indianola	Private	$46,212	65.7%	$59,274	1,130
Northwestern College	Orange City	Private	$35,300	63.6%	$49,802	1,125
Iowa Lakes Community College	Estherville	Public	$7,196	25.8%	$43,108	995
Mercy College of Health Sciences	Des Moines	Private	$17,328	48.6%	$62,234	905
Graceland University-Lamoni	Lamoni	Private	$33,220	38.3%	$47,361	901
Marshalltown Community College	Marshalltown	Public	$5,304	37.4%	$41,010	868
Northwest Iowa Community College	Sheldon	Public	$7,110	55.0%	$50,776	856
Clarke University	Dubuque	Private	$39,600	54.9%	$55,396	782
Maharishi International University	Fairfield	Private	$16,530	17.6%	$27,981	774
Southwestern Community College	Creston	Public	$7,024	53.0%	$40,129	774
Briar Cliff University	Sioux City	Private	$35,534	49.4%	$54,475	626
Ellsworth Community College	Iowa Falls	Public	$5,304	42.6%	$40,562	540
Allen College	Waterloo	Private	$20,444	N/A	$71,261	279
St Luke's College	Sioux City	Private	$20,940	33.3%	$61,033	192
PCI Academy-Ames	Ames	For-Profit	N/A	26.7%	$31,330	170
Capri College-Dubuque	Dubuque	For-Profit	N/A	77.1%	$28,266	153
Capri College-Davenport	Davenport	For-Profit	N/A	57.9%	$26,932	142
Capri College-Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids	For-Profit	N/A	80.7%	$29,307	128
La James International College-Davenport	Davenport	For-Profit	N/A	66.7%	$23,303	123
La James International College-Johnston	Johnston	For-Profit	N/A	64.3%	$27,401	113
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines	Des Moines	For-Profit	N/A	80.0%	$25,803	74
Orion Technical College	Davenport	For-Profit	$15,600	80.5%	$37,008	73
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology	Mason City	For-Profit	N/A	70.8%	$27,484	56
La James International College-Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls	For-Profit	N/A	100.0%	$25,575	40
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School	Urbandale	For-Profit	N/A	N/A	N/A	36
Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology	Cedar Rapids	Private	N/A	N/A	N/A	21
Carlson College of Massage Therapy	Anamosa	For-Profit	N/A	100.0%	$26,893	19
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology	Des Moines	Private	N/A	N/A	N/A	16

Nursing Schools by City in Iowa

Cedar Rapids 5 Davenport 5 Des Moines 5 Sioux City 4 Dubuque 3 Ames 2 Cedar Falls 2 Mason City 2 Waterloo 2

Nursing Guides & Resources

How to Become an RN RN Salary by State Most Affordable Programs Financial Aid & Scholarships BSN vs ADN Comparison Types of Nursing Degrees NCLEX Pass Rates Guide Compare Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

How many nursing schools are in Iowa?

There are 56 nursing schools in Iowa, including 19 public and 37 private institutions.

What is the average nursing school tuition in Iowa?

Average in-state tuition across nursing schools in Iowa is $22,026. Tuition ranges from $4,680 to $52,576 where data is available.

What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Iowa?

The average graduation rate is 54.2%, with La James International College-Cedar Falls reporting the highest rate at 100.0%.

What is the average retention rate in Iowa?

The average retention rate across nursing schools in Iowa is 70.7%.

What do graduates from nursing schools in Iowa earn?

The median schoolwide earnings figure among these institutions is $43,462 10 years after entry. This is institution-level outcomes data rather than nursing-only wage data.

What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Iowa?

Average median debt among nursing schools in Iowa is $16,868.

How much do registered nurses earn in Iowa?

Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $66,940, with the 10th percentile at $51,050 and the 90th percentile at $87,600.

What is the RN job outlook for Iowa?

The RN occupation shows projected growth of 4% in this state, with 33,440 registered nurses employed in the latest BLS wage data.

Iowa Nursing Market Context

BLS data for Iowa shows an RN median annual wage of $66,940 and a mean of $68,510 — among the lowest of any state with full BLS coverage. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $51,050 to $87,600. Statewide RN employment is approximately 33,440 and the projected growth rate is 4 percent — below the national 6 percent figure.

Median program debt of $16,868 against a $66,940 RN median wage produces a tight payback profile. Graduates of Iowa's higher-cost private programs face the most pressure, and the relatively low 90th-percentile figure of $87,600 means the upper end of the RN-tier wage curve does not reach as far as in neighboring states. Iowa's low cost of living substantially offsets the headline wage figure for graduates intending to stay in-state, but the comparatively flat projected growth and lower wage ceiling mean career-mobility considerations often pull experienced Iowa-trained nurses toward Minnesota, Illinois, or further-flung urban markets.

Nursing Programs in Other States

California 286 New York 193 Florida 184 Pennsylvania 159 Texas 159 Ohio 145 Illinois 119 North Carolina 101 Missouri 79 Georgia 78