| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year community college (Merged Area V), governed by an elected board; campus classes plus nine associate degrees offered online |
| Locations | Four open to adult students, all in Iowa: the main campus and East Campus in Fort Dodge, and centers in Storm Lake and Webster City |
| Credentials | Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Applied Arts (Digital Arts), Associate in Professional Studies, diplomas, certificates, apprenticeship classes, and AA transfer degrees |
| Typical length | About 11 weeks (truck driving) or 10 months (Dental Assisting) to two years (most AAS degrees) |
| Enrollment | 4,949 students in fall 2024, 54% of them full-time |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission since 1974; last reaffirmed 2020-21, next reaffirmation 2030-31 |
| Federal aid | Yes (OPEID 00186500) |
| Cost | 2025-26: $235 per credit for Iowa residents and $330.50 for non-residents, fees included |
| Founded | Organized in 1966 from the Fort Dodge, Webster City and Eagle Grove junior colleges |
| Facts checked | 9 October 2026 |
Fort Dodge’s community college, with centers in Storm Lake and Webster City
Iowa Central Community College is the public community college for a nine-county district around Fort Dodge, one of Iowa’s 15 community-college districts. It was organized in 1966 by merging three junior colleges, the oldest of them in Fort Dodge (1921). Almost all of its career training happens on the Fort Dodge main campus, with truck-driver training at East Campus; the centers in Storm Lake and Webster City have nursing faculty, nurse aide sections and general-education classes. The college lists 56 career and technical program entries, from welding and plumbing diplomas to selective health degrees. Recent changes include U.S. Department of Education approval of a Workforce Pell short-term program in August 2026, which the college calls the first in the nation, and a new Veterinary Technician degree that is still seeking accreditation.
Career programs, from truck driving to dental hygiene
Most of Iowa Central’s career programs lead to a diploma of two semesters to about a year or a two-year AAS degree; several programs offer both, so students can stop after the diploma and return for the degree. The table lists the main career programs from the college’s program pages (October 2026). The pages load course lists by script and mostly do not print credit totals, so a dash means no figure was given; the 2026-27 General Catalog has the full plans.
| Program | Credential | Length or hours | Where | Accreditation, exam or licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing | AAS | 720 clinical hours | Fort Dodge; faculty also in Storm Lake and Webster City | ACEN; NCLEX-RN |
| Practical Nursing | Diploma | Ends after the first summer; 360 clinical hours | Fort Dodge; faculty also in Storm Lake and Webster City | NCLEX-PN |
| Nurse Aide | 3-credit course or non-credit course | About 75 hours (non-credit) | Fort Dodge, Storm Lake, Webster City | Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry exams |
| Dental Hygiene | AAS | – | Fort Dodge (on-site clinic) | CODA |
| Dental Assisting | Diploma | 10 months | Ask the college | CODA |
| Radiologic Technology | AAS | – | Fort Dodge; clinicals in west and central Iowa | JRCERT; ARRT radiography exam |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | Not stated on the program page | – | Ask the college | ARDMS abdomen and OB/GYN exams |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | AAS | – | Fort Dodge or online with local clinicals | NAACLS; ASCP exam |
| Medical Assistant | Diploma (optional AAS) | Two semesters plus a 30-day practicum | Fort Dodge | CAAHEP; CMA exam |
| Veterinary Technician | AAS once accredited | – | Ask the college | AVMA CVTEA accreditation in process |
| Professional Truck Driver Training | Two certificates | 390 hours plus 210-hour employer OJT | East Campus, Fort Dodge | Class A CDL |
| Diesel Technology | AAS | About two years | Ask the college | MACS 609; Class A CDL included |
| Electrical Technologies; Electrical Apprenticeship | AAS; apprenticeship classes | Two years plus internship; 8,000 OJT hours | Fort Dodge | Iowa journeyman electrical exam |
| Heating and Air Conditioning; Plumbing | AAS (HVAC); diploma (plumbing) | – | Fort Dodge | – |
| Welding; Carpentry | Diplomas | Two semesters (welding) | Ask the college | – |
| Automotive Technology; Collision | AAS; diploma or AAS | Two years; two or four semesters | Fort Dodge (automotive) | – |
| Fire Science | AAS | Two years | Ask the college | Firefighter I/II, EMT, Hazmat (Iowa FSTB) |
Other career programs include Industrial Mechanics, Industrial Robotics and Automation, Electrical/Mechanical Technician, an Industrial Machinist diploma, Computer Integrated Fabrication, Accounting, the Business AAS, Computer Networking Technology, Graphic Design, Digital Arts, Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Emergency Medical Services and agriculture programs. Diagnostic Medical Sonography prepares students for the ARDMS abdomen and OB/GYN registry exams and is not a cardiac ultrasound program; its page does not state the credential or programmatic accreditation. Web development is an option inside the Business AAS rather than a separate program.
What the main programs cover
Nursing: ADN and Practical Nursing
Nursing students start together: the first two semesters are common to both programs, and Practical Nursing students leave with a diploma after the first summer, having logged 360 clinical hours. The ADN program lists 720 clinical hours. Nursing has two start points a year. Applications for a fall start run from 15 October to 15 March, and for a spring start from 15 May to 15 September. Clinical rotations are in person, though Triton Academy lists ADN theory courses among its online pathways for high-school students.
Class A truck-driver training
The truck-driving course follows the federal Entry-Level Driver Training rules, combining theory lessons with behind-the-wheel practice, and students must hold a commercial learner’s permit before starting. Classes run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for about 11 weeks, and a third-party examiner gives the CDL test on site. The second certificate is a 210-hour on-the-job training period with the employer that hires the graduate.
Electrical Technologies and the Electrical Apprenticeship
Electrical Technologies prepares students for residential, plant and wind-energy electrical work over two years, with an 8-week internship in the summer. The apprenticeship works the other way round: apprentices are already employed by an Iowa-registered electrical contractor under a licensed journeyman or master, and take related classes, including OSHA 10 and CPR, alongside 8,000 hours on the job, under a plan the college says is approved by the Department of Labor. The college says its classes meet Iowa’s educational requirement for licensure and can be applied toward an AAS.
Medical Laboratory Technician and Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technician students learn to run the tests behind diagnoses and can take the theory courses online, completing clinical training at a lab near home. Graduating classes are small, from 6 to 12 students a year since 2022. The Medical Assistant diploma takes two semesters of classroom and skills courses, then a 30-day practicum in the summer. Both are selective programs, and Medical Assistant graduates can add an AAS with 13 more required credits and 6 electives.
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technician is a new AAS, and its program page says it is “currently undergoing the accreditation process” with the AVMA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities; the AAS is awarded “upon program accreditation”. Applicants need a 2.8 GPA or 8 college credits at 2.0, 16 hours of animal experience and an essay. Because the program is not accredited yet, there are no VTNE pass rates; ask how accreditation status affects your eligibility for that exam.
Tuition, cost of attendance and financial aid
Iowa Central charges one rate to all Iowa residents, whether or not they live in the college’s district. The official 2025-26 rates, from the Iowa Department of Education’s summary of the college’s budget (May 2026), were:
| Per credit hour, 2025-26 | Iowa residents | Non-residents |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, including the $19 per-credit fee | $235 | $330.50 |
The tuition calculator also has a separate category for non-residents with a 3.0 GPA. For 2026-27, the college’s cost-of-attendance sheet lists $6,690 tuition plus $570 fees for a full-time, two-semester in-state year, marked “Pending Board Approval”. The same sheet estimates the full 2026-27 cost of attendance, including room, board, books and transport, at $21,839 for an Iowa student living in a residence hall and $24,704 for an out-of-state student; room and board is $9,140 and books and supplies $1,460.
Truck-driver training is priced separately: the college lists tuition as “$7,000 plus”, with on-site housing at $1,900, and says students may pay nothing upfront if they qualify for grants or financial aid. A Nurse Aide course costs $697 for credit, or $116 in materials plus a $190 state test fee as a non-credit course. The payment plan carries a $25 fee per semester, and the business office charges no late fees, interest or card fees.
Iowa Central takes federal financial aid (OPEID 00186500). Its Workforce Pell program, approved in August 2026, extends Pell grants to shorter job-training courses, and HLC approved a Pell-eligible prison education program in February 2025. Diesel students can apply for the Titan Machinery Service Technician Sponsorship.
Open admission, selective health programs and online degrees
Admission to the college is open: anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent can take courses. Several programs choose their students, with fixed application windows where published:
- Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing: 15 October to 15 March for fall, 15 May to 15 September for spring.
- Dental Hygiene and Radiologic Technology: 1 November to 1 March.
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography: 1 November to 1 April.
- Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Assistant, Dental Assisting and Emergency Medical Services: selective; ask for current dates.
- Veterinary Technician: 2.8 GPA or 8 college credits at 2.0, 16 hours of animal experience and an essay.
Most career programs run as daytime classes on the Fort Dodge campus; truck driving runs Monday to Friday, 8 to 4. In August 2026 the college introduced an 8-week course format. Nine associate degrees are offered online: the AA transfer degree, Accounting Associate, Business, Computer Networking Technology, Criminal Justice, Digital Arts, Health Care Administration (an Associate in Professional Studies), Human Services and Medical Laboratory Technician, which needs local clinical training.
Accreditation and published results
Iowa Central has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1974. Its last reaffirmation was in 2020-21 and the next is due in 2030-31. In September 2025 HLC completed an Assurance Review and continued the college’s accreditation, and HLC lists no sanctions.
Program accreditation: ACEN accredits Associate Degree Nursing; CODA accredits Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting; JRCERT accredits Radiologic Technology; NAACLS accredits Medical Laboratory Technician; and CAAHEP accredits the Medical Assistant diploma. Veterinary Technician is going through AVMA CVTEA accreditation and is not accredited yet. Fire Science certifications come through the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau, which is IFSAC-accredited.
Published results:
| Measure | Result | Year or cohort | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN, first-time candidates (Associate Degree Nursing) | 83.16% (95 tested); 91.14% | 2025; 2024 | Iowa Board of Nursing |
| NCLEX-PN, first-time candidates (Practical Nursing) | 94.55% (110 tested) | 2025 | Iowa Board of Nursing |
| ASCP certification exam (Medical Laboratory Technician) | 100% each year | Graduates 2022 to 2026 | Program page |
| CMA exam (Medical Assistant) | 96.08% five-year average | 2020 to 2024 | Program’s 2025 annual report |
| Graduation within 150% of normal time | 42% | Full-time, first-time students who started in fall 2021 | College Navigator |
| Fall-to-fall retention | 52% full-time; 39% part-time | Fall 2023 to fall 2024 | College Navigator |
We found no published pass or placement rates for dental hygiene, dental assisting, sonography, veterinary programs or truck driving. Iowa Central enrolled 4,949 students in fall 2024.
Before you enroll
- Veterinary Technician is not yet accredited by the AVMA’s CVTEA; the college says the program is going through the process and awards the AAS only upon accreditation. Ask what happens to your degree and exam eligibility if accreditation is not granted by the time you finish.
- The NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate fell to 83.16% in 2025 from 91.14% in 2024 (Iowa Board of Nursing), while the practical nursing rate rose to 94.55%. Ask the nursing department what has changed.
- Storm Lake and Webster City are smaller centers. The college’s pages confirm nursing faculty, nurse aide sections and general-education courses there, but most trade and health programs are taught in Fort Dodge, so check where every course in your program meets before planning to study at a center.
- The Electrical Technologies route to the journeyman exam needs 6,000 hours of work after graduation, and the college says it applies only in Iowa. The apprenticeship requires a job with an Iowa-registered electrical contractor.
- The college’s online-learning page does not mention interstate authorization for online study, so students outside Iowa should ask whether they can enrol in its online degrees. Niche reviewers describe the 8-week online terms as intense for working students, and 42% of full-time students who started in fall 2021 graduated within three years.
Housing, internships and employer links
Iowa Central has residence halls on the Fort Dodge main campus, and its housing page also lists East Campus; 2026-27 room and board is $9,140. Truck-driving students can rent furnished housing on site. Several programs build work experience into the credential: the Electrical Technologies 8-week summer internship, the Plumbing Technology summer internship, the Medical Assistant 30-day practicum, practicums in Culinary Arts and Baking, and the 210-hour truck-driving placement with the hiring employer. The college also announced an apprenticeship partnership with Elanco in 2026. The Storm Lake center has an Academic Resource Center.
What students say
On Niche, Iowa Central averages 3.96 out of 5 from 440 reviews, with an overall grade of C+ (checked 9 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise friendly, helpful instructors and staff, affordable tuition, and a welcoming campus that is easy to get around. The most common complaints are the small town’s limited amenities, mixed views of dining and of dorm conduct (some mention drug use), some instructors who seem not to care, and intense 8-week online terms. The newest dated reviews are from August and September 2025, and we saw no sign of a burst of posts, but we did not compare them with another review platform.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026: Iowa Central career and technical programs · 2026-27 cost of attendance · Iowa Department of Education FY2027 budget summary · HLC accreditation status · Iowa Board of Nursing NCLEX-RN results · College Navigator · Truck driver training · Niche reviews
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health Sciences
- Associate Degree Nursing, RN (AAS)
- Practical Nursing, LPN (diploma)
- Nurse Aide, CNA (credit or non-credit course)
- Dental Hygiene (AAS)
- Dental Assisting (diploma)
- Radiologic Technology (AAS)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Medical Laboratory Technician (AAS; also online)
- Medical Assistant (diploma; optional AAS)
- Emergency Medical Services
- Health Care Administration (APS, online)
Animal Care
- Veterinary Assistant (diploma)
- Veterinary Technician (AAS once AVMA CVTEA accreditation is granted)
Transportation and Automotive
- Professional Truck Driver Training, Class A CDL (East Campus)
- Diesel Technology (AAS)
- Automotive Technology (AAS)
- Automotive Collision Technology (diploma or AAS)
Building and Industrial Trades
- Heating and Air Conditioning Technology
- Electrical Technologies (AAS)
- Electrical Apprenticeship
- Electrical/Mechanical Technician
- Plumbing Technology (diploma)
- Carpentry (diploma)
- Welding Technology (diploma)
- Industrial Mechanics
- Industrial Robotics and Automation
- Industrial Machinist (diploma)
- Computer Integrated Fabrication
Business and Computing
- Business (AAS; options in general business, accounting, office administration, web development; also online)
- Accounting Associate (AAS, also online; diploma)
- Accounting Assistant (diploma)
- Computer Networking Technology (AAS; also online)
- Computer Repair (diploma)
- Computer Languages (certificate)
Arts, Media and Hospitality
- Graphic Design (diploma or AAS)
- Digital Arts (AAA; also online)
- Digital Media Production
- Photography
- Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management (AAS); Culinary Arts (diploma)
- Baking and Pastry Arts (diploma)
Public Safety and Human Services
- Fire Science (AAS)
- Criminal Justice (AAS, also online; diploma; AA)
- Human Services (AAS, online)
Agriculture
- Agriculture, including Turfgrass
Campus Locations
Fort Dodge, IA One Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Fort Dodge, IA 2031 Quail Avenue, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Storm Lake, IA 323 West 20th Street, Storm Lake, IA 50588
Webster City, IA 1725 Beach Street, Webster City, IA 50595