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Surgical tech programs in Iowa

7 surgical tech programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

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

Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange the equipment and help doctors during surgery. Most have a certificate or an associate degree from an accredited program, and some employers require certification.1

In Iowa, 1 of the 7 programs takes students without a high school diploma, 5 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

All 7 are the same kind of program: surgical technology (associate degree).

See the 7 programs

How much do surgical tech programs cost in Iowa?

$12,802 to $15,045 is what most surgical tech programs in Iowa cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 7 programs with a price. All of them: $11,840 to $16,520

In the typical program

Finished the program
31%
Working 6 months later
89%
Earned a year, estimated
about $35,100
Length
68 to 84 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 surgical tech programs. How these figures are made

Are there free surgical tech programs in Iowa?

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

All 7 surgical tech programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

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7 programs

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

    Surgical Technology

    Kirkwood Community College

    Cedar Rapids

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Kirkwood Community College, Cedar RapidsSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$38,600
    Price if you pay yourself$13,125
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Kirkwood Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology at Kirkwood Community College
    Finished
    29%
    Working at 6 months
    88%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,658
    Length
    80 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $4,314
    Students counted
    453
    Earned a year, estimated
    $38,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,125
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Kirkwood Community College

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)In personEducation and courses

    Surgical Technology, AAS

    Des Moines Area Community College

    Ankeny

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Des Moines Area Community College, AnkenySurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$35,100
    Price if you pay yourself$11,840
    Program website, Surgical Technology, AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology, AAS at Des Moines Area Community College
    Finished
    31%
    Working at 6 months
    100%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,767
    Length
    74 weeks, 22 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,785
    Students counted
    122
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $11,840
    Program website, Surgical Technology, AAS at Des Moines Area Community College

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

    Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science

    Iowa Western Community College

    Council Bluffs

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

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

    Earned a year, estimated$47,000
    Price if you pay yourself$14,464
    Program website, Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College
    Finished
    23%
    Working at 6 months
    75%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,757
    Length
    64 weeks, 26 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,594
    Students counted
    86
    Earned a year, estimated
    $47,000
    Price if you pay yourself
    $14,464
    Program website, Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Iowa Western Community College

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

    Surgical Technology - AAS

    Western Iowa Tech Community College

    Sioux City

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux CitySurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$31,400
    Price if you pay yourself$13,910
    Program website, Surgical Technology - AAS at Western Iowa Tech Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology - AAS at Western Iowa Tech Community College
    Finished
    51%
    Working at 6 months
    90%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,851
    Length
    64 weeks, 25 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,788
    Students counted
    80
    Earned a year, estimated
    $31,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,910
    Program website, Surgical Technology - AAS at Western Iowa Tech Community College

  • Surgical technology (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Surgical Technology

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

    Davenport

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, DavenportSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$34,600
    Price if you pay yourself$12,480
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    More details about Surgical Technology at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
    Finished
    74%
    Working at 6 months
    89%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,652
    Length
    72 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,750
    Students counted
    78
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,600
    Price if you pay yourself
    $12,480
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

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

    Surgical Technology

    Indian Hills Community College

    Ottumwa

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

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

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$15,625
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Indian Hills Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology at Indian Hills Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    96 weeks, 9 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $15,625
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Indian Hills Community College

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

    Surgical Technology

    Iowa Lakes Community College

    Estherville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Iowa Lakes Community College, EsthervilleSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$16,520
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College
    More details about Surgical Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    88 weeks, 13 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,000
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,520
    Program website, Surgical Technology at Iowa Lakes Community College

How to pay for surgical tech programs in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for surgical tech 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 surgical tech 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 surgical tech 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: Surgical tech programs in Iowa

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
21st of 23
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
6 of 17
surgical tech programs here, against the typical state's 6
7 vs 6

State comparisons use the same figures as the surgical tech 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).

Surgical tech programs in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Omaha and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Iowa

How surgical tech programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Iowa

Where the Iowa surgical technology program numbers come from

Which Iowa surgical technology programs are on this list?

These are the surgical technology 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 surgical technology 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 surgical tech programs in Iowa

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Surgical Technologists
  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