| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year community college, mostly campus-based, with hybrid nursing and some programs online |
| Locations | Main campus in Sioux City; campuses in Cherokee and Denison; regional centers in Le Mars and Mapleton. All in Iowa |
| Service area | Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Monona, Plymouth and Woodbury counties |
| Credentials | Associate of Applied Science (AAS), AA/AS transfer degrees, diplomas and certificates |
| Program length | From the four-week CDL course and short certificates to two-year AAS degrees |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission; College Navigator lists accreditation since 1977 and a next review in 2029 |
| Federal aid | Yes, federal school code 007316 |
| 2026-27 tuition | $189 per credit for Iowa residents, $195 out of state, $234 for online courses, plus $31 per credit in fees |
| Students | 5,482 in fall 2024, two-thirds part-time (College Navigator) |
| Founded | 1966; first classes January 1967 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Western Iowa’s community college, based in Sioux City
Western Iowa Tech Community College is one of Iowa’s 15 public community colleges, serving Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Monona, Plymouth and Woodbury counties from its main campus on Stone Avenue in Sioux City. It was organized in 1966, held its first classes in January 1967 and marks its 60th anniversary in 2026-27. College Navigator counted 5,482 students in fall 2024, two-thirds of them part-time. Most career programs are taught only in Sioux City; the Cherokee and Denison campuses add practical nursing, welding, HVAC and nursing assistant training. Two recent changes stand out: the FAA certificated the college’s aviation maintenance school in September 2026, and a new president, the college’s fourth, took office in July 2026.
Career programs and where they are taught
The table lists the main career programs with Western Iowa Tech’s own 2026-27 program totals for Iowa residents, which are tuition and fees only. They do not include the $99-a-semester educational resource fee, books, tools or living costs. Out-of-state students pay about 3% more. “Sioux City” means the main campus.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for | 2026-27 tuition and fees (Iowa resident) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing (PN) | Diploma, 36 credits | 1 year | Hybrid: Sioux City, Cherokee or Denison | NCLEX-PN | $7,920 |
| Nursing (ADN, RN) | AAS, 73 credits | Second year after the PN | Hybrid: Sioux City or Denison | NCLEX-RN | $16,060 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | Certificate, 4 credits | – | Sioux City, Cherokee, Denison, Mapleton | Iowa CNA exam | $880 |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 65 credits | – | Sioux City | CST | $14,300 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AAS, 72.5 credits | – | Sioux City | NPTE | $15,950 |
| Dental Assisting | Diploma, 35 credits | 2 semesters | Sioux City | Iowa registration; DANB | $7,700 |
| Medical Assistant | Diploma, 47 credits | 3 semesters | Sioux City | CMA | $10,340 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Diploma, 34 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $7,480 |
| Medical Coding Specialist | Diploma, 43 credits | – | Sioux City or online | – | $9,460 |
| EMT | Certificate, 7 credits | – | Sioux City | NREMT | $1,540 |
| EMS – Paramedic | AAS, 65 credits; diploma, 44 | – | Sioux City | NREMT | $14,300; diploma $9,680 |
| Veterinary Assistant | Diploma, 33 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $7,260 |
| Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration | Diploma, 36 credits | – | Sioux City, Denison | – | $7,920 |
| Electrician | Diploma, 34 credits | 2 semesters | Sioux City | Leads toward apprenticeship | $7,480 |
| Plumbing Systems | Diploma, 38 credits | – | Sioux City | Apprenticeship entry test | $8,360 |
| Welding Technology | AAS, 68 credits; Industrial Welding diploma, 32 | – | Sioux City, Cherokee, Denison | AWS and ASME certifications | $14,960; diploma $7,040 |
| Automotive Technology | AAS, 65 credits | 2 years | Sioux City | – | $14,300 |
| Auto Collision Repair Technology | AAS, 67 credits | – | Sioux City (autobody also Denison) | – | $14,740 |
| Aviation Maintenance Technology | AAS, 77 credits; Airframe diploma, 44 | 2 years | Aviation Maintenance Center, Sioux Gateway Airport | FAA airframe and powerplant | $16,940 |
| Construction | Diploma, 36 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $7,920 |
| Carpentry | Certificate, 16.5 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $3,630 |
| Manufacturing | Diploma, 33 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $7,260 |
| Truck Driving | Certificate, 10 credits; 4-week CDL course | 4 weeks (course) | Beltway Center, Sioux City | CDL | $2,200 (certificate) |
| Entry-Level Firefighter | Certificate, 11 credits | – | Sioux City | Firefighter I and II | $2,420 |
| Fire Fighter/Paramedic | AAS, 78 credits | – | Sioux City | Firefighter I and II; NREMT | $17,160 |
| Police Science Technology | AAS, 65 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $14,300 |
| Paralegal/Legal Assistant | AAS, 69 credits | – | Sioux City | – (no ABA approval stated) | $15,180 |
| Culinary Arts | AAS, 64 credits | – | Sioux City | ServSafe | $14,080 |
| Cyber Security and Digital Crime | AAS, 66 credits | – | Sioux City or online | – | $14,520 |
| Network Administration and Security | AAS, 69 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $15,180 |
| Accounting | Diploma, 33 credits; Specialist AAS, 66 | – | Sioux City or online (diploma) | – | $7,260; AAS $14,520 |
| Early Childhood Education | AAS, 65 credits | – | Sioux City | – | $14,300 |
Several health programs carry programmatic accreditation: ACEN for practical nursing and the ADN, CODA for Dental Assisting, CAPTE for the PTA degree, and CAAHEP for Medical Assistant, Surgical Technology and Paramedic. Aviation maintenance is an FAA Part 147 school. The college also teaches robotics and automation, electromechanical, mechanical engineering technology and industrial drafting, agribusiness and agriculture (agriculture also at Denison since 2025), hospitality management, video and media production, audio engineering, broadcasting and band instrument repair. Communication, psychology, social work, exercise science and other subjects are offered only as AA or AS transfer degrees.
What the main programs cover
Practical nursing, then the RN degree
Nursing at Western Iowa Tech is a two-step ladder. Applicants first complete a 75-hour CNA course and meet ACT or TEAS requirements (TEAS 59% or higher), then take the one-year, 36-credit practical nursing diploma in a hybrid format: some study online, the rest in Sioux City, Cherokee or Denison. Sioux City starts in fall and spring; Cherokee and Denison start in fall only. Graduates sit the NCLEX-PN and can move straight into the ADN, which needs six credits of anatomy and physiology plus a TEAS of at least 66% or ACT criteria.
Aviation Maintenance Technology
This is a new program: HLC approved its credentials in January 2024, the FAA certificated the school under Part 147 on 25 September 2026, and the first cohort began that fall, so there are no graduates or exam results yet. Hands-on training is at the Aviation Maintenance Center on Pershing Street at Sioux Gateway Airport. The 77-credit AAS takes two years and prepares students for the FAA airframe and powerplant exams; the 44-credit Airframe diploma is shorter.
Welding
Welding is the one trade taught at all three campuses. The 68-credit Welding Technology AAS covers shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux-cored and gas tungsten arc welding, oxy-fuel and robotic welding, and work is done to the AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX and API 1104 codes. The college says students can earn numerous AWS and ASME certifications along the way. The 32-credit Industrial Welding diploma is the shorter option, and Production Welding and Qualified Welding certificates are shorter still.
Electrician and Plumbing Systems
The Electrician diploma runs two semesters and covers residential, commercial and industrial wiring theory, blueprint reading, estimating, safety and electrical codes. Students practise on a real job site, wiring the Western Iowa Tech Project Home in Sioux City. Plumbing Systems is a 38-credit diploma built around Iowa’s apprenticeship system: graduates may test into the Plumbing Apprenticeship, a score of 75% can earn credit for its first year, and completing the apprenticeship makes them eligible for the Iowa journeyman exam.
CDL truck-driver training
Truck-driver training is based at the Beltway Center on Highway 75 North in Sioux City, which the college secured in 2009 for workforce and transportation training. The four-week course has more than 160 hours of classroom and behind-the-wheel training and meets the federal entry-level driver training rules; evening classes are now offered. Students who want college credit can take the 10-credit Truck Driving certificate. The college received a federal grant in 2024 to expand its CDL training.
Physical therapist assistant and surgical technology
Both are AAS degrees at the Sioux City campus with national programmatic accreditation. The 72.5-credit PTA degree is accredited by CAPTE and leads to the NPTE; the program publishes pass, graduation and employment figures, and employment was 100% for 2023 and 2024 graduates. Surgical Technology is 65 credits, accredited by CAAHEP, and leads to the Certified Surgical Technologist exam, which 92% of graduates who sat it in 2026 passed.
2026-27 tuition, fees and aid
For 2026-27 Western Iowa Tech charges $189 per credit hour for Iowa residents and $195 for non-residents, plus $31 per credit in student fees and a $99 educational resource fee each semester. Online credit courses are $234 per credit; the rate sheet does not say whether residency changes that. The resident rate was $179 in 2024-25 and $184 in 2025-26. Citizens of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands have paid the resident rate since July 2024. Program totals run from $880 for the CNA certificate and $7,480 for the Electrician diploma to $16,940 for Aviation Maintenance Technology (plus about $4,000 of tools) and $17,160 for the Fire Fighter/Paramedic AAS.
The college takes federal student aid (school code 007316). Many programs, including HVAC, Plumbing, Culinary Arts, Dental Assisting, Medical Coding, Fire Science, Police Science, Manufacturing, Cyber Security and Computer Support, are listed for Iowa’s Last-Dollar Scholarship, which the college describes as free tuition and fees for select programs tied to high-demand jobs; the scholarship’s FAFSA deadline is 30 June 2027. College scholarships include the President’s ($2,500), Board Level ($1,500) and Comet Level and WIT Foundation awards ($1,000 each; Foundation priority deadline 15 March). Veterans can use GI Bill chapters 30, 31, 33, 35 and 1606, and a VA certifying official works on the Sioux City campus. College Navigator reports credit for military training and 43 Post-9/11 GI Bill students in 2023-24.
Applying, selective programs and schedules
Applying is free and has four steps: create an account, complete the application, meet any program requirements, then meet an advisor to choose classes. Some programs have their own entry requirements. Practical nursing needs a 75-hour CNA course plus ACT or TEAS scores; the ADN needs the practical nursing diploma or an LPN licence; the Law Enforcement Advanced Diploma needs academy-director approval and a prior Police Science or Criminal Justice degree; and Fire Fighter/Paramedic students must hold Iowa EMT certification before the fourth term.
Online classes run from 4 to 16 weeks. Programs with an online option include the Accounting diploma, Human Resources Management, Entrepreneurship, Medical Coding Specialist, Cyber Security and Digital Crime and the Child Development certificates. Students outside Iowa should confirm with the college that they can enroll online from their state. The CDL course offers evening classes, and practical nursing at Cherokee and Denison starts in fall only.
Accreditation and results
Western Iowa Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which in January 2024 approved its new aviation maintenance credentials. College Navigator lists HLC accreditation since 1977 and a next review in 2029. The nursing programs are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
Under the federal measure, 50% of first-time, full-time students who started in fall 2021 graduated within 150% of normal time, and 7% transferred out (College Navigator). Full-time retention from fall 2023 to fall 2024 was 64%. Exam and completion results, from the Iowa Board of Nursing (as read in October 2026) and the program pages:
| Measure | Result | Cohort | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (Nursing ADN) | 87.50% of 80 first-time candidates (91.76% in 2024) | 2025 calendar year | Iowa Board of Nursing |
| NCLEX-PN (Practical Nursing) | 87.76% of 98 first-time candidates (97.39% in 2024) | 2025 calendar year | Iowa Board of Nursing |
| Surgical Technology (CST) | 92% of graduates who attempted the exam | Exam taken in 2026 | Program page |
| Physical Therapist Assistant (NPTE) | 75% first attempt (80% in 2024, 91.7% in 2023) | 2025 | Program page |
| Medical Assistant (CMA) | 79.17% five-year rate | 2020–2024 | Program page |
| EMS – Paramedic (NREMT) | 70% within three attempts; 80% positive placement | 2025 cohort, 10 eligible | Program page |
| EMT (NREMT) | 65% | 2024 cohort | Program page |
| Nursing ADN completion | 78.87% | Fall 2024 and spring 2025 starts | Program page |
Dental Assisting publishes no DANB pass rate, and aviation maintenance has no graduates yet.
Before you enroll
- There is no direct-entry RN program. Students reach the RN degree through the practical nursing diploma (or an LPN licence), and practical nursing at Cherokee and Denison starts once a year, in fall.
- Check what each program’s accreditation covers. The Paralegal page mentions no ABA approval, Culinary Arts follows American Culinary Federation competencies but does not claim ACF accreditation, the automotive shop names no ASE Education Foundation accreditation, Pharmacy Technician states no ASHP/ACPE accreditation, and the Police Science page does not say it includes Iowa Law Enforcement Academy certification.
- Emergency medical pass rates are lower than the nursing results. The 2024 EMT cohort passed the NREMT at 65%, and the 2025 paramedic cohort at 70% within three attempts.
- The college settled two federal labor-trafficking lawsuits in 2024. J-1 visa students from Chile and Brazil alleged that the college placed them on meat-processing lines instead of the culinary or robotics training they were promised and diverted about half their wages to program costs; it settled for $3 million in April 2024 and $2.3 million in July 2024.
- The Le Mars and Mapleton centers are not full program sites. Mapleton mainly serves high school students taking dual-credit health courses, and we found no program named for Le Mars on the college’s pages.
Campuses and centers
All of Western Iowa Tech’s locations are in Iowa:
- Sioux City main campus (4647 Stone Avenue): every program, plus college housing. CDL and motorcycle rider training run at the Beltway Center on Highway 75 North, and aviation maintenance at the Aviation Maintenance Center at Sioux Gateway Airport.
- Cherokee campus (200 Victory Drive): practical nursing, welding and CNA, with the first classes of most other programs.
- Denison campus (11 N 35th Street): practical nursing and the ADN, HVAC, welding, autobody, agriculture and CNA, plus a regional high school Career Academy opened in fall 2025.
- Le Mars and Mapleton regional centers: classroom and lab space for Plymouth County (Le Mars) and dual-credit health courses with a nursing lab (Mapleton).
Housing and student support
Western Iowa Tech has on-campus housing in Sioux City only. Bur Oak Suites and Prairie Place have four-bedroom suites at $3,500 a semester, and Sun Ridge Court has one- and two-bedroom apartments at $4,000 to $4,975 a semester; staying between terms in May or August costs $400 extra. TRIO Student Support Services, funded for 2025 to 2030, offers academic help to eligible students. Work experience is built into several programs: Electrician students wire the Project Home, Paralegal students complete an internship and Pharmacy Technician students rotate through pharmacy sites.
What students say
On Niche, Western Iowa Tech has 4 out of 5 stars from 283 reviews (checked October 2026); most give four or five stars. Reviewers most often praise a welcoming atmosphere and dedicated instructors, small classes with personal attention, tutoring, and schedules that work for students with jobs or children. The main complaints are professors who are slow to answer emails, thin campus life outside class and limited dining. The most recent reviews date from September 2025 and arrived steadily rather than in a burst.
Sources
Checked October 2026: WITCC tuition and fees 2026-27 · WITCC programs · College Navigator · HLC actions, January 2024 · Iowa Board of Nursing NCLEX-RN results · NCLEX-PN results · Iowa Capital Dispatch on the 2024 settlement
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Practical Nursing (PN diploma; Sioux City, Cherokee, Denison)
- Nursing ADN (AAS, RN; entry from the PN diploma or an LPN licence)
- Nursing Assistant (CNA certificate)
- Medication Aide (certificate)
- IV Therapy Concepts (certificate)
Health Sciences
- Dental Assisting
- Medical Assistant
- Surgical Technology
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician
- Medical Coding Specialist
- Administrative Assistant – Medical
- Medical Secretary
- Health Information Technology (certificate, online)
- Veterinary Assistant
Emergency Services
- Emergency Medical Responder
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Advanced EMT
- EMS – Paramedic (AAS)
- Paramedic (diploma)
- Entry-Level Firefighter
- Fire Science
- Fire Fighter/Paramedic
Building Trades
- Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration
- Electrician
- Plumbing Systems
- Residential Plumbing (certificate)
- Construction
- Carpentry (certificate)
- Interior Finishing (certificate)
- Drywall, Concrete Specialties, Wall Framing and Roofing (certificates)
Welding, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology
- Welding Technology (AAS)
- Industrial Welding (diploma)
- Production Welding and Qualified Welding (certificates)
- Manufacturing
- Robotics and Automation
- Electromechanical Technician
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Industrial Drafting Technology
Automotive, Aviation and Transportation
- Automotive Technology
- Auto Mechanic (diploma)
- Auto Collision Repair Technology
- Aviation Maintenance Technology (AAS)
- Aviation Airframe Maintenance Technician (diploma)
- General Aviation Maintenance (certificate)
- Truck Driving (certificate) and CDL training (Beltway Center)
Agriculture
- Agribusiness Technology
- Agriculture (diploma)
- Agriculture Management (AAS, online)
Business
- Accounting Specialist
- Accounting (diploma, also online)
- Bookkeeping
- Cost Accounting, Payroll Clerk and Tax Preparer (certificates, online)
- Business Management
- Technical Business Management (online)
- Administrative Office Management
- Administrative Office Support
- Office Assistant (certificate, online)
- Human Resources Management (also online)
- Entrepreneurship (also online)
- Digital Marketing Strategist (certificate)
- Marketplace Design (online)
Information Technology
- Cyber Security and Digital Crime (also online)
- Information Security Analyst
- Network Administration and Security
- Computer Support Technician
- Help Desk Technician (certificate)
Media and Design
- Graphic Design
- Video and Media Production
- Audio Engineering Technician
- Broadcasting and Multimedia Journalism
- Band Instrument Repair
Culinary and Hospitality
- Culinary Arts
- Food Service (diploma)
- Food Preparation (certificate)
- Hospitality Management
- Hospitality Operations
Public Safety and Legal
- Police Science Technology
- Law Enforcement Advanced Diploma
- Paralegal/Legal Assistant
- Legal Secretary
Education and Child Care
- Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Studies (diploma)
- Child Development: Infant/Toddler and Preschool (certificates, also online)
University transfer (AA/AS)
- Transfer tracks including Business, Criminal Justice, Communication, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Education, English, History, Fine Arts, Biology, Chemistry and Math, many online
Campus Locations
Sioux City, IA (Main Campus) 4647 Stone Avenue, Sioux City, IA 51106
Cherokee, IA 200 Victory Drive, Cherokee, IA 51012
Denison, IA 11 N 35th Street, Denison, IA 51442