12 accredited programs at 9 schools in Iowa, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel and aviation maintenance. Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $50,510.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
12 ranked programs at 9 schools in Iowa: 8 automotive, 1 diesel and 3 aviation maintenance.
Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA scores highest, 64.1 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,510 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Iowa.
Published prices run from $4,848 a year, in-state (Eastern Iowa Community College District) to $6,930 a year, in-state (Iowa Western Community College).
9 of 9 ranked mechanic schools in Iowa are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Iowa
These mechanic schools in Iowa run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Technology
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA
Score64.1
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Automotive Technology, 69 credit hours
Mopar CAP
Cost
$6,176a year, in-state
Graduation rate
43%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in Iowa
$50,510median, BLS May 2025
Awards
286in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #42 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $6,176 a year, in-state, a 43% graduation rate and 286 awards in 2024-25.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Auto Mechanics Technology
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA
Score60.7
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science
Ford ASSET
GM ASEP
Cost
$5,790a year, in-state
Graduation rate
39%within 150% of normal time
Awards
143in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #82 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $5,790 a year, in-state, a 39% graduation rate and 143 awards in 2024-25. Its figures cover its accredited sites in Ames, IA; Ankeny, IA; Carroll, IA; Des Moines, IA.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional) and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive Technology
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, IA
Score57.9
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, 76 credits
Cost
$6,525a year, in-state
Graduation rate
43%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$62,817median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
13in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #110 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $6,525 a year, in-state, graduates earning a median $62,817 and a 43% graduation rate.
8 ranked automotive programs at 8 schools in Iowa. Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids, IA) leads and stands #42 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.1. Eastern Iowa Community College District is the lowest priced at $4,848 a year, in-state, against $6,780 a year, in-state at Northeast Iowa Community College. Automotive programs are taught in Cedar Rapids, IA, Ankeny, IA, Waterloo, IA, Mason City, IA, Davenport, IA and Calmar, IA, and 2 more cities. The best completion rate, 61% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Mason City, IA. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,510 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Iowa, $110 below the national median of $50,620.
The one diesel program ranked in Iowa is Eastern Iowa Community College District (Davenport, IA): #65 of 76 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 44.8. Eastern Iowa Community College District publishes $4,848 a year, in-state. The program graduated 45% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 9 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,680 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Iowa, $2,090 below the national median of $61,770.
3 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 3 schools in Iowa. The best placed is Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids, IA), #65 of 148 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 54.9. Indian Hills Community College is the lowest priced at $5,040 a year, in-state, against $6,930 a year, in-state at Iowa Western Community College. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Cedar Rapids, IA, Council Bluffs, IA and Ottumwa, IA. The largest, in Council Bluffs, IA, awarded 64 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $69,890 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Iowa, $9,980 below the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 7,610 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Iowa, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Iowa above.
BLS median pay in Iowa by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$50,510
under $36,100
over $77,400
7,610
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$59,680
under $43,710
over $80,080
4,140
$61,770
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$69,890
under $33,740
over $93,130
330
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Omaha, NE-IA at $54,230 (2,250 jobs), Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $60,470 (1,870 jobs) and Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL at $47,880 (980 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Omaha, NE-IA at $60,960 (1,120 jobs) and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $61,630 (1,050 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA at $59,100 (130 jobs) and Omaha, NE-IA at $67,350 (130 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Iowa has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA has the highest score of the 12 ranked programs in Iowa, 64.1 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Iowa, the leaders by trade are Kirkwood Community College (automotive), Eastern Iowa Community College District (diesel) and Kirkwood Community College (aviation maintenance). All nine are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in Iowa are accredited?
The 9 ranked mechanic schools in Iowa hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive and diesel and FAA Part 147 certification for aviation maintenance, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in Iowa?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Iowa earn a median of $50,510, $110 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $59,680, $2,090 below the national median of $61,770. These are medians for wage and salary workers in the occupation, not starting pay.
How much do mechanic schools in Iowa cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Iowa with a published price, tuition and fees run from $4,848 a year, in-state at Eastern Iowa Community College District (Davenport, IA) to $6,930 a year, in-state at Iowa Western Community College (Council Bluffs, IA). The median across the state is about $6,176 a year.
Sources for Iowa Mechanic School Rankings
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions (awards July 2024 to June 2025, provisional), tuition and fees for 2024-25, graduation rates within 150% of normal time and the institutional directory.
This site earns money from sponsored school listings served by the education ad network Esyoh, which are marked as ads wherever they appear. Schools pay to appear in those listings, not in the rankings: a listing is not scored, and no listing can change a ranking. Rankings come from published records, and program details from each school’s own published pages.
