Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved barber and cosmetology programs in Iowa

Quick answer

Barber and cosmetology training in Iowa is spread across 14 cities, with Ames the largest at 2 locations.

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 15 barber and cosmetology training locations in Iowa with 15 approved programs: 12 with school programs and 3 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 1 has a VA caution flag.

Before you enroll, open the VA profile to confirm the exact program, and ask the School Certifying Official to confirm your start date. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]

15 locations, by city

Show all 15 locations

Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026. School details come from VA's data file dated October 8, 2026. The list is sorted by city, then name. It isn't a ranking.

Common questions

How many GI Bill-approved barber and cosmetology programs are in Iowa?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 15 approved programs at 15 locations in Iowa as of October 23, 2026. That's about 1% of the 1,563 barber and cosmetology locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 12 for-profit schools, 3 employers and apprenticeship sponsors.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in Iowa have barber and cosmetology programs?

By number of locations: Ames (2), Cedar Falls (1), Cedar Rapids (1), Davenport (1), Des Moines (1), Dubuque (1) and 8 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Are there paid barber and cosmetology apprenticeships in Iowa that take the GI Bill?

Yes. 3 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in Iowa (3 programs); 1 of them is a registered apprenticeship. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you're paid wages plus a monthly housing payment that steps down every six months.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]

Do any barber and cosmetology schools in Iowa have VA caution flags?

Yes. 1 location has a VA caution flag. Each flag is shown on its listing in VA's wording. Read it before you enroll.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Other trades in Iowa

← All Barber & Cosmetology programs · Does the GI Bill cover barber or cosmetology school?

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool data (ComparisonToolData.xlsx)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.