The top-rated nursing schools in Iowa help students gain valuable academic knowledge and pragmatic experience in clinical settings. A range of degree pathways are available to choose from in this field of study. In fact, you may be interested in upskilling with a graduate certificate or earning your BSN on your way to applying for graduate school to obtain an MSN degree. In either case, the nursing colleges in Iowa will help you determine which degree path makes the most sense from broad degrees to specific tracks inpsychiatric mental health nursingorpalliative care nursing. After successfully completing your degree program with an accredited university, you will need to pass a standardized nursing test commonly known as the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and apply with theIowastate board of nursing to obtain a license to practice. Gather important information about the bestnursingschools in Iowa to align the degrees with admissions and financial aid criteria by requesting information today through our portal.
Browse Nursing Schools in Iowa By Type
- (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurse (14 Schools)
- (ADN-RN) Registered Nurse (17 Schools)
- (BSN) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (18 Schools)
- (MSN) Master of Science in Nursing (1 Schools)
Top Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Programs in Iowa By Number of Graduates
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs usually take 9 - 12 months to complete and you would have to pass a licensing exam prior to being licensed in the state. Schools listed below are sorted by the number of LPN program students enrolled.
Institution Name | Request Information |
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Kirkwood Community College | Request Info |
Northeast Iowa Community College - Calmar | Request Info |
Western Iowa Tech Community College | Request Info |
Iowa Western Community College | Request Info |
Southeastern Community College - West Burlington | Request Info |
Northwest Iowa Community College | Request Info |
Southwestern Community College | Request Info |
Iowa Central Community College | Request Info |
Indian Hills Community College | Request Info |
Marshalltown Community College | Request Info |
Eastern Iowa Community College District | Request Info |
Ellsworth Community College | Request Info |
Iowa Lakes Community College | Request Info |
Des Moines Area Community College | Request Info |
Top Associate Level Registered Nurse (RN) Programs in Iowa By Number of Graduates
The minimum degree requirement to become a Registered Nurse is to obtain an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) or Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, which usually takes about 2 years to complete. You would also have to pass the NCLEX-RN exam prior to being state licensed. Schools listed below are sorted by the number of students enrolled in the program.
Institution Name | Request Information |
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Des Moines Area Community College | Request Info |
Kirkwood Community College | Request Info |
Iowa Western Community College | Request Info |
Western Iowa Tech Community College | Request Info |
Northeast Iowa Community College - Calmar | Request Info |
Eastern Iowa Community College District | Request Info |
Southeastern Community College - West Burlington | Request Info |
Iowa Central Community College | Request Info |
St Luke's College | Request Info |
Hawkeye Community College | Request Info |
Indian Hills Community College | Request Info |
Northwest Iowa Community College | Request Info |
Southwestern Community College | Request Info |
Marshalltown Community College | Request Info |
Mercy College of Health Sciences | Request Info |
Ellsworth Community College | Request Info |
Iowa Lakes Community College | Request Info |
Top Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programs in Iowa By Number of Graduates
See the top schools offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. A BSN program usually takes 4 years to complete, and a licensing exam (NCLEX) is also required. Some of these schools may also offer a RN to BSN bridge programs. The top 10 schools listed below are sorted by the number of students enrolled in their BSN program.
Institution Name | Request Information |
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University of Iowa | Request Info |
Mercy College of Health Sciences | Request Info |
Mount Mercy University | Request Info |
Graceland University - Lamoni | Request Info |
Upper Iowa University | Request Info |
Saint Ambrose University | Request Info |
Briar Cliff University | Request Info |
Grand View University | Request Info |
St Luke's College | Request Info |
Luther College | Request Info |
Clarke University | Request Info |
Morningside College | Request Info |
Northwestern College | Request Info |
Dordt College | Request Info |
Coe College | Request Info |
University of Dubuque | Request Info |
Iowa Wesleyan University | Request Info |
Ashford University |
Top Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs in Iowa By Number of Graduates
Getting your Master of Science in Nursing will take about 5-7 years from start to finish. You would still need to take a exam prior to being fully licensed to practice in the state. The schools listed below are sorted by the number of students enrolled in their Master's program.
Institution Name | Request Information |
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Morningside College | Request Info |
Registered Nurses in Iowa can make a salary between $43,000 to $75,000 per year. The list below shows registered nurse salaries in areas throughout Iowa.
- Ames: $59,000
- Des Moines, West Des Moines: $59,000
- Davenport, Moline, Rock Island: $57,000
- Iowa City: $64,000
- Cedar Rapids: $56,000
Nurse's in Iowa Compared to Median Income Averages
+62% Above State Median Income
+50% Above National Median Income
Nurse's in Iowa take home an average 29.00 per hour. Annual earnings for Nurse's working in the State of Iowa average $61,904 which is 62% above the state median income and 50% above the national median income for all occupations. Employment for a Nurse makes up just of the working population in Iowa and is limited due to the specific qualifications required along with the schooling involved in this career path. The increasing demand for qualified Nurses coupled with the educational barrier to enter the field is met with a steady supply of eager college graduates anxious to make a long-lasting impact in the lives of others in and around Iowa.
Average Income for a Nurse in Iowa
Employment | Median Hourly Wage | Median Annual Wage | |
---|---|---|---|
Iowa Nurse | 198,120 | $29.00 | $61,904 |
State Average | 1,466,980.00 | $17.87 | $37,170.00 |
National Average | 155,760,000.00 | $19.33 | $35,977.00 |
Source:
Graduate data is from the 2013-2014 school year.
IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.