Cosmetology Schools in Iowa
14 Iowa schools offer Cosmetology. Average graduate earnings run 19% above the national average — something worth factoring in alongside tuition, location, and program fit.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aveda Institute-Des Moines West Des Moines, IA |
48 |
| 2 | PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA |
46 |
| 3 | PCI Academy-Iowa City Iowa City, IA |
46 |
| 4 | Capri College-Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA |
46 |
| 5 | La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology Mason City, IA |
45 |
| 6 | Capri College-Davenport Davenport, IA |
45 |
| 7 | Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines Des Moines, IA |
44 |
| 8 | Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake Spirit Lake, IA |
44 |
| 9 | Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City Sioux City, IA |
44 |
| 10 | Capri College-Dubuque Dubuque, IA |
43 |
| 11 | La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA |
43 |
| 12 | La James International College-Johnston Johnston, IA |
43 |
| 13 | SOHO Hair Academy Council Bluffs, IA |
42 |
| 14 | American Hair Academy Mt. Pleasant, IA |
41 |
Compare Cosmetology in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how Iowa compares to others with strong Cosmetology offerings.