Welding programs in Iowa
28 welding programs at 16 Iowa schools are in the federal data. Where earnings are reported (9 programs), the state median is $47,678 one year after completion, 10% above the national median of $43,370. Median borrower debt is $5,500.
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 20 | $65,355 | – | – |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 87 | $61,035 | – | – |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 14 | $54,708 | – | – |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 321 | $53,940 | $5,500 | $63 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 15 | $47,678 | – | – |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 25 | $46,467 | – | – |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 81 | $44,556 | – | – |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 52 | $44,101 | $5,500 | $63 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 48 | $42,912 | $5,500 | $63 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 84 | not reported | – | – |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | – | – |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 34 | not reported | – | – |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 64 | not reported | – | – |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | – | – |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 47 | not reported | – | – |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 8 | not reported | – | – |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | – | – |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 64 | not reported | – | – |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | – | – |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 38 | not reported | – | – |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | Precision Metal Working | Certificate | 33 | not reported | – | – |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
Compare schools near you
Use the data on this page to shortlist two or three schools, then contact them directly with the links provided. Ask each school the questions listed on the page.
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Before you choose a welding school in Iowa
Employers often ask for a welding certification such as those offered by the American Welding Society. Those exams are separate from the school diploma, so ask each school how many weld-test hours you get in a booth.
- How many hours are spent in the weld booth versus the classroom?
- Which welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW) and positions are covered?
- Does the school host certification tests on site?
More programs in Iowa
All Iowa programs · Welding & Metalworking nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-paying welding program in Iowa?
By reported one-year earnings, Des Moines Area Community College leads at $65,355 in the associate degree program, but compare cost and local jobs too.
How many welding programs are in Iowa?
The Scorecard lists 28 certificate or associate programs in this field at 16 schools in Iowa.