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Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, Iowa · Public community college
Address: 19 S 7th St, Estherville, IA 51334 · Phone: (712) 362-2601 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Iowa Lakes Community College is a public trade school in Estherville, Iowa, offering auto mechanic, LPN/LVN, and electrician programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Iowa Lakes Community College has a 50.0% completion rate, below Iowa's 63.6% state average, with median graduate debt of $12,000 and median earnings of $43,108 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 Lakes Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 19.1% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $36,100 | $50,510 | $67,200 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $50,550 | $62,630 | $70,840 |
| Electricians | $39,770 | $60,860 | $79,970 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $45,590 | $55,090 | $60,200 |
| Massage therapists | $37,560 | $57,710 | $76,090 |
| Construction laborers | $38,180 | $48,490 | $58,470 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $26,650 | $35,700 | $48,580 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $43,040 | $60,680 | $75,950 |
| Medical assistants | $36,730 | $45,480 | $48,030 |
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
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | $33,993 | not reported |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | $24,035 | not reported |
| Carpenters | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | $33,993 | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | $33,993 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Associate degree | 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.
About this school
Iowa Lakes Community College is a public community college in Estherville, Iowa, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its nursing programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. Among its 12 trade and career programs, the campus awards the most credentials in auto mechanic schools, LPN/LVN programs, and electrician schools.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 50.0%, below the Iowa state average of 63.6%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $12,000, and median earnings ten years after entry were $43,108. About 19.1% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a meaningful share of lower-income students. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 55 trade program completers out of 941 total undergraduates, this campus serves a small-town, remote-locale student population studying hands-on trades like auto repair, nursing assistance, and electrical work. The mix of short career-training programs and longer associate-level tracks may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers, though program lengths themselves are not detailed here. Prospective students should confirm current accreditation status and review full outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, and contact the school for specifics on schedules and program formats.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Iowa Lakes Community College offers 12 trade programs, most notably auto mechanic schools, LPN/LVN programs, and electrician schools, along with welding, HVAC, cosmetology, massage therapy, medical assistant, and construction trades programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its nursing programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 50.0%, which is below the Iowa state average of 63.6%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $12,000, according to federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,108, per federal Scorecard 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 for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Iowa Lakes Community College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition and eligibility for state as well as federal aid programs compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school at (712) 362-2601 or visit iowalakes.edu for specific program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status through the Higher Learning Commission and review detailed federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?153533.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of hands-on trade programs in a small-town, remote-locale setting, though specific scheduling or adult-learner accommodations are not detailed in this data; contacting the school directly can clarify fit.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements vary by field, such as nursing or electrical work, and are not detailed in this data; contact the school for program-specific licensing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Iowa Lakes Community College at (712) 362-2601 or through its website, https://www.iowalakes.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data for nearby schools is not included here; the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?153533 can be used 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.