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2026 Best Construction Trades Schools in Iowa

1 Colleges in the United States
572 Construction Trades Degrees Awarded
$45,283 Avg Early-Career Salary

Construction Trades degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools to find the best for construction trades students.

What’s on this page:

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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

1

Leading the list is Northwest Iowa Community College, our #1 school for construction trades. Located in the town of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 78 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Iowa Community College 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. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Get the full construction trades details for Northwest Iowa Community College

2

Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. About 42 construction trades degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $35,556 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,886. See the full construction trades program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College

3

A rank of #3 makes Marshalltown Community College one of the top schools for construction trades. Set in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 101 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. Students borrow a median of $6,837 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Marshalltown Community College

4

Des Moines Area Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 59 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $34,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,956. More information about a degree in construction trades from Des Moines Area Community College

5

Hawkeye Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 12 construction trades degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $44,602 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in construction trades from Hawkeye Community College

6

Southwestern Community College Creston ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a mid-sized public institution. Southwestern Community College Creston awarded about 79 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Southwestern Community College Creston earn a median of $46,106 early in their careers. Southwestern Community College Creston graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Southwestern Community College Creston

7

Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned the #7 position for construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 30 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $44,198 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar

8

Iowa Western Community College placed #8 among the best construction trades schools. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. About 57 construction trades degrees were awarded at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,153 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in construction trades from Iowa Western Community College

9

Iowa Central Community College placed #9 among the best construction trades schools. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. There were roughly 40 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $39,624 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,135. Read more about the construction trades program at Iowa Central Community College

10

North Iowa Area Community College earned the #10 position for construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 20 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at North Iowa Area Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from North Iowa Area Community College earn around $44,466 in the first couple years of their career. North Iowa Area Community College graduates carry a median of $12,043 in student loans. More information about a degree in construction trades from North Iowa Area Community College

11

Iowa Lakes Community College came in at #11 for construction trades this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Estherville. There were roughly 13 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Lakes Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $46,937 in their early career. Iowa Lakes Community College graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Iowa Lakes Community College

12
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College landed the #12 spot for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 24 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $41,681 in their early career. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Kirkwood Community College

13

Southeastern Community College West Burlington landed the #13 spot for construction trades this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of West Burlington. Southeastern Community College West Burlington awarded about 17 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn a median of $45,760 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,126. See the full construction trades program report for Southeastern Community College West Burlington

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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