Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved welding programs in Iowa

Quick answer

Welding training in Iowa is spread across 21 cities, with no more than one location in any city.

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 21 welding training locations in Iowa with 52 approved programs: 16 with school programs and 5 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]

21 locations, by city

Des Moines Area Community College

Ankeny, IA
VA profile for Des Moines Area Community College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public
  • Certificate: Welding Gas Metal Arc
  • Certificate: Welding Gas Tungsten Arc
  • Certificate: Welding Shielded Metal Arc
  • Certificate: Welding Thermal Cutting
  • Certificate: Welding-Blueprint Reading
  • Diploma Welding

GI Bill students (all programs): 474Accredited (regional)

Show all 21 locations

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, IA
VA profile for Southeastern Community College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public
  • Certificate: Adv Manufact Weld Process Cert
  • Certificate: Adv Welding Processes Certificate
  • Certificate: Basic Welding Process Certificate
  • Certificate: Welding Diploma

GI Bill students (all programs): 57Accredited (regional)

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 welding programs are in Iowa?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 52 approved programs at 21 locations in Iowa as of October 23, 2026. That's about 2% of the 1,352 welding locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 16 public colleges and technical schools, 5 employers and apprenticeship sponsors.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in Iowa have welding programs?

By number of locations: Adel (1), Ankeny (1), Bettendorf (1), Carter Lake (1), Cedar Rapids (1), Clinton (1) and 15 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Are there paid welding apprenticeships in Iowa that take the GI Bill?

Yes. 5 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in Iowa (8 programs); 4 of them are registered apprenticeships. 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 welding 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 Welding programs · Does the GI Bill cover welding 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.