Cosmetology Schools in Iowa

14 schools compared · Average earnings $20,519/yr

14 Iowa schools offer Cosmetology. Average graduate earnings run 19% above the national average — something worth factoring in alongside tuition, location, and program fit.

Schools in IA
14
Avg Grad Earnings
$20,519/yr
+19% vs. national avg
Avg Score
44/100
Top IA Cities
1
with programs

Cosmetology Training in Iowa: What You Need to Know

Local program supply

Iowa has 14 schools offering Cosmetology programs, concentrated in 1 citiy including {'city': 'Davenport', 'city_slug': 'davenport', 'count': 2, 'avg_earn': 20141.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.

Earnings vs. national

Cosmetology graduates in Iowa earn approximately $20,519/year on average, which is +19% above the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Iowa-specific licensing

Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify Iowa-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.

How Iowa compares

Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Cosmetology programs in Iowa is 44/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.

Cosmetology Programs in Iowa

All 14 Iowa schools offering Cosmetology, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.

# School Score Earnings ROI
1 Aveda Institute-Des Moines
West Des Moines, IA
48 $27,081/yr
2 PCI Academy-Ames
Ames, IA
46 $24,178/yr
3 PCI Academy-Iowa City
Iowa City, IA
46 $24,178/yr
4 Capri College-Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
46 $23,586/yr
5 La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
Mason City, IA
45 $23,313/yr
6 Capri College-Davenport
Davenport, IA
45 $22,161/yr
7 Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
44 $20,355/yr
8 Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake, IA
44 $20,098/yr
9 Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City
Sioux City, IA
44 $20,000/yr
10 Capri College-Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
43 $19,651/yr
11 La James International College-Davenport
Davenport, IA
43 $18,120/yr
12 La James International College-Johnston
Johnston, IA
43 $17,464/yr
13 SOHO Hair Academy
Council Bluffs, IA
42 $16,234/yr
14 American Hair Academy
Mt. Pleasant, IA
41 $10,853/yr

Compare Cosmetology in Other States

Considering a nearby state? Here's how Iowa compares to others with strong Cosmetology offerings.

← See Cosmetology programs across all states
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, and DOL RAPIDS. Methodology & sources →