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Construction training programs in Iowa

10 construction programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

8 schools offer these construction programs, and Iowa has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Construction laborers and helpers do tasks on construction sites such as supplying and holding materials and tools and cleaning work areas and equipment. Most learn on the job and some through apprenticeships that add technical instruction, and employers often require safety certification that meets OSHA guidelines, before or after hiring.1

In Iowa, 4 of the 10 programs take students without a high school diploma, 5 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 10 programs here are construction trades certificate or diploma (3 programs), building and facilities maintenance (2 programs), construction technology (associate degree, 2 programs), NCCER Core or intro construction course (1 program), and 2 more of 2 other kinds.

See the 10 programs

How much do construction training programs cost in Iowa?

$2,540 to $14,545 is what most construction programs in Iowa cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 10 programs with a price. All of them: $1,457 to $21,240

In the typical program

Finished the program
78%
Working 6 months later
77%
Earned a year, estimated
about $28,100
Length
12 to 66 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Iowa may also offer construction training programs. How these figures are made

Are there free construction training programs in Iowa?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 construction programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

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10 programs

  • NCCER Core or intro construction courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Introduction to Construction Trades

    Hawkeye Community College

    Waterloo

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Hawkeye Community College, WaterlooNCCER Core or intro construction course · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$34,800
    Price if you pay yourself$5,700
    Program website, Introduction to Construction Trades at Hawkeye Community College
    More details about Introduction to Construction Trades at Hawkeye Community College
    Finished
    54%
    Working at 6 months
    83%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,703
    Length
    13 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $200
    Students counted
    86
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,700
    Program website, Introduction to Construction Trades at Hawkeye Community College

  • Building and facilities maintenanceIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Nebraska Maintenance Academy

    Nebraska Maintenance Academy

    Omaha, NE

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Nebraska Maintenance Academy, Omaha, NEBuilding and facilities maintenanceIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Classes are outside Iowa; Iowa approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimated$35,200
    Price if you pay yourself$4,265
    Program website, Nebraska Maintenance Academy at Nebraska Maintenance Academy
    More details about Nebraska Maintenance Academy at Nebraska Maintenance Academy
    Finished
    84%
    Working at 6 months
    87%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,811
    Length
    12 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $450
    Students counted
    65
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,265
    Program website, Nebraska Maintenance Academy at Nebraska Maintenance Academy

  • Construction trades certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Construction Trades

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaConstruction trades certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$21,400
    Price if you pay yourself$11,778
    Program website, Construction Trades at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Construction Trades at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    72%
    Working at 6 months
    50%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,342
    Length
    48 weeks, 11 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    32
    Earned a year, estimated
    $21,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,778
    Program website, Construction Trades at Indian Hills Community College

  • Custodial and grounds maintenanceHybridNo diploma needed

    Certified Custodial Technician

    Goodwill of the Heartland

    Iowa City

    No diploma needed

    Goodwill of the Heartland, Iowa CityCustodial and grounds maintenanceHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$16,400
    Price if you pay yourself$1,860
    Program website, Certified Custodial Technician at Goodwill of the Heartland
    More details about Certified Custodial Technician at Goodwill of the Heartland
    Finished
    93%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,106
    Length
    6 weeks, 13 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $287
    Students counted
    31
    Earned a year, estimated
    $16,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,860
    Program website, Certified Custodial Technician at Goodwill of the Heartland

  • Construction trades certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Building Construction *BUILD.CPC

    Northeast Iowa Community College

    Calmar

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Northeast Iowa Community College, CalmarConstruction trades certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$20,800
    Price if you pay yourself$1,965
    Program website, Building Construction *BUILD.CPC at Northeast Iowa Community College
    More details about Building Construction *BUILD.CPC at Northeast Iowa Community College
    Finished
    86%
    Working at 6 months
    40%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,209
    Length
    12 weeks, 9 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    20
    Earned a year, estimated
    $20,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,965
    Program website, Building Construction *BUILD.CPC at Northeast Iowa Community College

  • Construction technology (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Construction Technology

    Iowa Lakes Community College

    Estherville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Lakes Community College, EsthervilleConstruction technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$40,700
    Price if you pay yourself$15,467
    Program website, Construction Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College
    More details about Construction Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College
    Finished
    60%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,179
    Length
    72 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $550
    Students counted
    15
    Earned a year, estimated
    $40,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $15,467
    Program website, Construction Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College

  • Building and facilities maintenanceHybridPrerequisite courses

    Hospitality Maintenance Technician

    Goodwill of the Heartland

    Iowa City

    Prerequisite courses

    Goodwill of the Heartland, Iowa CityBuilding and facilities maintenanceHybrid · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,457
    Program website, Hospitality Maintenance Technician at Goodwill of the Heartland
    More details about Hospitality Maintenance Technician at Goodwill of the Heartland
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    5 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $287
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,457
    Program website, Hospitality Maintenance Technician at Goodwill of the Heartland

  • Construction trades certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Building Trades Diploma

    Des Moines Area Community College

    Ankeny

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenyConstruction trades certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$8,880
    Program website, Building Trades Diploma at Des Moines Area Community College
    More details about Building Trades Diploma at Des Moines Area Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    42 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $705
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,880
    Program website, Building Trades Diploma at Des Moines Area Community College

  • Construction management (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Construction Management - Associate of Applied Science

    Iowa Western Community College

    Council Bluffs

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Western Community College, Council BluffsConstruction management (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$16,401
    Program website, Construction Management - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College
    More details about Construction Management - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,330
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,401
    Program website, Construction Management - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College

  • Construction technology (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Construction Technology, A.A.S.

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Indian Hills Community College, OttumwaConstruction technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$21,240
    Program website, Construction Technology, A.A.S. at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Construction Technology, A.A.S. at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    96 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $21,240
    Program website, Construction Technology, A.A.S. at Indian Hills Community College

How to pay for construction training programs in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for construction training programs in Iowa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for construction training programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for construction training programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Construction training programs in Iowa

programs with a price cost under $2,000
3 of 10
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
24th of 28
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
3 of 15
construction programs here, against the typical state's 7
10 vs 7

State comparisons use the same figures as the construction training programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Construction training programs in Omaha, Ottumwa, Iowa City and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Iowa

How construction training programs compare with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Iowa

Where the Iowa construction program numbers come from

Which Iowa construction programs are on this list?

These are the construction programs Iowa approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa construction programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about construction training programs in Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Construction Laborers and Helpers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List