Career Training Path

Career Training PathIowa › Iowa Central Community College

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, Iowa · Public community college

CNA classesLPN / LVN programsWelding schoolsDiesel mechanic schoolsConstruction trades programsElectrician schoolsHVAC schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsMedical assistant programsRadiology & sonography programsDental hygiene programsCulinary & pastry schoolsCosmetology schoolsCNC & machining programsEMT & paramedic training
42%completion rate · Iowa avg 64%
$11,000median debt of graduates
$35,830median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$42,046median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (Accredited)
Address: One Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 · Phone: 51557672011148 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Iowa Central Community College is a public trade and career school in Fort Dodge, Iowa offering CNA classes, LPN programs, and welding, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Iowa Central Community College has a 41.6% completion rate, below the state average of 63.6%, with median graduate debt of $11,000 and median earnings of $42,046 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Iowa Central Community College; federal financial aid can be used, and about 34.9% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Iowa Central Communit… Iowa Central Communit…: 41.6% 41.6% Iowa average Iowa average: 63.6% 63.6% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Nursing assistants$35,620$39,350$45,650
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$50,550$62,630$70,840
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$45,590$55,090$60,200
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$43,710$59,680$71,570
Construction laborers$38,180$48,490$58,470
Electricians$39,770$60,860$79,970
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$43,040$60,680$75,950
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$36,100$50,510$67,200
Medical assistants$36,730$45,480$48,030
Radiologic technologists and technicians$54,360$65,930$79,390
Dental hygienists$78,320$84,010$93,880
Chefs and head cooks$36,770$47,990$59,380
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$26,650$35,700$48,580
Machinists$44,500$57,540$61,530
Emergency medical technicians$35,600$40,660$47,870

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Iowa (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, under 300 hours 137 $35,521 not reported $12,986
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 77 $35,521 not reported $12,986
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 48 $38,989 $35,274 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 24 $40,543 $36,521 $12,000
Carpenters Certificate, 1–2 years 23 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 21 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 20 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 16 $44,740 $42,682 $13,740
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 14 $49,719 $48,041 $16,930
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 14 $40,543 $36,521 $12,000
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 12 not reported not reported $11,293
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 10 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 4 not reported $30,228 $12,625
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 4 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Associate degree 3 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 3 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 3 $40,543 $36,521 $12,000
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 2 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 2 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 2 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 1 $44,740 $42,682 $13,740
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 1 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

The Path · Free weekly newsletter
Career training, minus the guesswork.
Which programs finish, what graduates owe, what they earn. Every week.
Subscribe →

About this school

Iowa Central Community College is a public community college located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, situated in a remote town setting. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, along with specialized accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this school. Across 23 program families, the campus awards the most completions in CNA classes (137), LPN/LVN programs (77), and welding (48), with 443 total trade completers among an undergraduate enrollment of 3,103.

Federal data shows a completion rate of 41.6%, which is below the state average of 63.6%. Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,046. Roughly 34.9% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.

This campus offers a mix of short certificate programs, such as CNA and welding, alongside longer allied-health tracks like LPN and dental hygiene, suggesting options for both quick career entry and more extended technical training; program length details specific to adult or career-changer scheduling are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the listed accreditors and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current outcome figures before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Iowa Central Community College offers 23 program families, with the most completions in CNA classes (137), LPN/LVN programs (77), and welding (48). Other program areas include diesel mechanics, HVAC, electrician, medical assisting, radiology tech, dental hygiene, culinary, cosmetology, CNC machining, and EMT training.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited. Its accreditors include the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 41.6%, which is below the state average of 63.6%, according to federal data.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, per federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,046, per federal data.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at its website or by phone for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Iowa Central Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for in-state students and eligibility for state and federal funding support.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program schedules and duration.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation status with the listed accreditors and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?153524.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The campus offers both short certificate programs like CNA and welding and longer allied-health tracks like LPN, which may suit different timelines, but specific fit for adult career-changers is not detailed in federal data. Contact the school to discuss scheduling and program options.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Iowa Central Community College by phone at 51557672011148 or visit its website at https://www.iowacentral.edu/ for application information.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset. Use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?153524 to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

Choosing a career program? Pick with the numbers.
Completion, debt and pay for real programs, plus one practical tip a week. Free.
Subscribe →