7 Best LPN-to-RN Programs in Iowa – (Online & Campus-Based)


Written By: Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA

If you’re an Iowa LPN who wants more forward momentum in your nursing career, maybe it’s time to consider enrolling in one of the LPN-to-RN programs in Iowa. These programs will leverage your existing knowledge to provide a springboard to advanced nursing skills. As a registered nurse in the Cornhusker State, your average compensation will be 35 percent higher than what you earn as a licensed practical nurse: $69,370 annually instead of $51,400. You’ll also be looking at employment opportunities that will increase by 12 percent in just one decade. Ready to make the push? The guide below to the 7 best LPN-to-RN programs in Iowa is an excellent place to start.



WHAT ARE THE BEST LPN-TO-RN PROGRAMS IN IOWA (ONLINE AND CAMPUS-BASED)?

Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 7 best campus-based and online LPN-to-RN programs in Iowa.


1. Northwest Iowa Community College - Sheldon


Program Details: If you are a licensed practical nurse ready to reach higher goals in your career by becoming a registered nurse, Northwest Iowa Community College offers one of the best LPN-to-RN programs in Iowa and can help you make that dream a reality. New cohorts begin in the summer semester of each year and follow a three-semester or one-year pathway. If you require general education classes prior to entry, those classes are available online. The program’s nursing coursework features in-depth classroom instruction and laboratory learning on campus as well as face-to-face clinical practicums.

The AAS degree requires students to complete 86 credits. Students in the LPN-to-RN program are awarded up to 45 credits from their LPN program and must complete 41 associate-level nursing credits. The program also includes clinical practicum experiences in a wide array of healthcare settings. You will have opportunities to care for patients of all ages experiencing various levels of acute, chronic, and complex health issues. Clinicals are arranged by program faculty at approved sites and completed under the supervision of either clinical faculty or approved preceptors.


Why Choose This Program

• The LPN-to-RN program boasts excellent faculty with decades of clinical nursing and nursing education experience. Their knowledge and skills coupled with true commitment to the profession will help you prepare for and succeed in your career as you transition to the RN role.
• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program at Northwest Iowa Community College consistently score higher than the national average on the NCLEX-RN among first time testers!


2. North Iowa Area Community College - Mason City


Program Details: North Iowa Area Community College is home to another excellent LPN-to-RN program in Iowa. The program is a total four-semester pathway, including one prerequisite semester. Therefore, if you have all of the required prerequisites, you may complete the program in less time. The first term of nursing
courses begins in the fall semester annually.

To earn the Associate of Applied Science degree, you must earn 71.5 semester credit hours. 47.5 of the required credits are earned following the completion of prerequisites. You will learn to utilize the nursing process to emphasize evaluation and meeting client needs. Coursework includes in-depth study on topics such as pharmacological concepts, psychosocial well-being, health maintenance, disease prevention, and diet modification. The school stresses the importance of having online access to some web-enhanced course assignments.

Additionally, the program includes a clinical course each semester with corresponding practicum. You will complete a total of 605 hours of in-person patient care over the course of three semesters. Clinical practicums are completed at area hospitals and healthcare facilities, including physicians’ offices, public health clinics, and specialty clinics. Some clinical assignments may be scheduled during evenings, nights, or weekend hours.


Why Choose This Program

• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program have excellent job placement ratings after completing the program. Most graduates report finding employment within the first few months of graduation, and many receive job offers from clinical sites where practicums are held.
• At North Iowa Area Community College, you will benefit from small class sizes, making individualized attention from faculty and clinical preceptors possible.


3. Iowa Lakes Community College - Emmetsburg


Program Details: Another of our featured LPN-to-RN programs in Iowa is found at Iowa Lakes Community College. The program is designed to be completed in five terms, including the prerequisite term. Tammy Shimon, Dean of Health Education at Iowa Lakes CC, shared with me that the program has both online and in-person classes. After completing the required general education coursework, prerequisites, and a required online Health Informatics class, Ms. Shimon states that students have the option of continuing the program through a hybrid pathway, which is more fast-paced, or in the traditional face-to-face pathway, which offers a slower pace and campus-based learning.

To earn the associate degree in nursing, you must complete a total of 76 credits. LPNs entering the program are awarded at least eight credits for prior learning in Nursing Concepts and Dosage Calculations. You may receive credit for other classes, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis. In addition to classes and lab simulations, the program includes 675 clinical hours, giving you extensive opportunities to practice hands-on patient care.


Why Choose This Program

• At Iowa Lakes Community College, you will have an academic advisor who mentors you from the time you are admitted to the program until you graduate. Their role is to help you plan for and prepare to meet the requirements of the program with as much ease as possible, promoting your success.
• Iowa Lakes Community College offers students scholarship opportunities to help offset the expenses associated with the LPN-to-RN program. One example is the Last Dollar Scholarship, which is a state-specific scholarship designed to support the state’s goal of having increased numbers of residents in the workforce or a training program by 2025.


4. Ellsworth Community College - Iowa Falls


Program Details: Ellsworth Community College offers another outstanding option for licensed practical nurses seeking LPN-to-RN programs in Iowa. The program admits students in the fall each year. After completing prerequisite courses, you can complete the program in just two semesters.

The LPN-to-RN program in Iowa at Ellsworth Community College features a 56.5-credit curriculum, consisting of 27 prerequisite credits and 29.5 nursing credits. At ECC, you will study in classes, including Transitions to Professional Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Foundations of Professional Nursing, and Family-centered Maternal and Newborn Nursing.

Clinicals encompass a broad range of patient care experiences. You will participate in skills labs and simulations on campus and practicums at designated clinical sites arranged by clinical faculty. You will have opportunities to care for patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities, specialty physicians’ offices, burn units, and critical care units. By the time you graduate, you will have completed at least 475 clinical hours.


Why Choose This Program

• Ellsworth Community College has a long history of preparing students for academic success. The college was founded in 1890 and has grown to accommodate the changing needs of the healthcare landscape by educating students ready to step into the role of the registered nurse with confidence.
• Ellsworth Community College believes financial burdens should be the least of your worries while pursuing your RN degree. The college participates in federal and state financial aid programs and offers several scholarship opportunities, making it one of the most affordable colleges in the state of Iowa.


5. Iowa Central Community College - Fort Dodge


Program Details: Iowa Central Community College offers another excellent LPN-to-RN program in Iowa. Licensed practical nurses enter the traditional associate degree program with advanced standing during the summer session and graduate in three semesters. Most core nursing classes are face-to-face. However, the program offers a combination of traditional/face-to-face and online options for other classes, as well as in-person skills lab training, and direct patient care clinicals .

The associate degree nursing program is a traditional 79-credit hour pathway designed to help you develop advanced critical thinking and leadership skills and learn to become an integral part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. After completing all prerequisites and receiving credit for prior learning, LPNs need to complete only 49 credits. The curriculum includes classes such as Applied Nursing Practices, Nursing Theory, and Sociology. As a student in this program, you will complete a minimum of 270 clinical hours at various healthcare facilities within the school’s partner network.


Why Choose This Program

• Graduates of the LPN-to-RN program at Iowa Central Community College have excellent pass rates on the NCLEX-RN, which is a strong indicator of the value of the education the program provides.
• The college offers job placement assistance to all students, including those in the LPN-to-RN program. Academic and career coaches will work with you from the time you enter the program until you graduate to ensure you get the most out of your education and have an excellent start in your career as you transition to becoming a registered nurse.


6. Iowa Western Community College - Council Bluffs


Program Details: If you are looking for a top LPN-to-RN program in Iowa, Iowa Western Community College has another excellent program worth considering. The program offers start dates in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, offering more options for when to begin your studies. While some general education courses are offered online, the major nursing component of the LPN-to-RN program is a full-time, campus-based pathway that features simulation labs as well as in-person clinicals. The traditional program takes six semesters, including the prerequisite semester. However, as an LPN, you can complete the program in just three semesters.

The traditional associate degree nursing program is an 86-credit pathway. However, as an LPN, you will matriculate into the program in the third semester and earn 42 credits. The program also incorporates a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting. You will gain valuable experience providing hands-on patient care in various settings and specialties, including maternal-child nursing, mental health nursing, and critical care nursing. The college arranges clinical sites and preceptors for you to ensure you have adequate opportunities for learning and practicing your skills.


Why Choose This Program

• In addition to excellent faculty support, Iowa Western Community College offers tutoring support and clinical study groups to promote your success in the LPN-to-RN program.
• IWCC works closely with four-year nursing programs to provide graduates of the LPN-to-RN program opportunities to continue their education to receive a bachelor's degree in nursing.


7. Kirkwood Community College - Cedar Rapids


Program Details: Kirkwood Community College offers an excellent LPN-to-RN program in Iowa. The LPN transfer option allows you to leverage your practical nursing degree and license to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing by completing the last two or three semesters of the school’s ADN program. With three start dates per year, in the fall, spring, and summer, you can choose a time to begin your studies that suits your individual needs. The LPN-to-RN Associate of Applied Science program is designed primarily as a daytime program, but occasional evening or weekend labs and other experiences may be required. Clinical practicums occur at various healthcare facilities, as determined by program faculty.

To earn the associate degree in nursing at Kirkwood Community College, students typically must complete 86 credits. As an LPN, you may need only 24-36 credits, based on your previous academic achievements and prior learning experience. The curriculum includes classes such as Advanced Concepts in Mental Health, Nursing Care of the Growing Family, and Advanced Concepts in Obstetric and Pediatric Nursing. Additionally, you will begin clinicals in your first semester. Clinicals are designed to give you a broad range of learning opportunities providing RN-level patient care in all nursing areas. Clinicals occur in hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, home health agencies, and other healthcare facilities.


Why Choose This Program

• The LPN-to-RN program at Kirkwood Community College boasts outstanding NCLEX-RN pass rates. Graduates have some of the highest pass rates in the state among first-time NCLEX testers.
• A low faculty-to-student ratio means individualized learning and attention from faculty who are dedicated to your success.


VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED


1. Starting LPN VS. RN Salary In Iowa: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


RN Average Starting
Annual Salary
LPN Average Starting
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$61,250$46,440+$14,810+31.89%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


2. Experience-Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Iowa: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


Level of ExperienceRNLPNDifference
Number%
Entry-Level$61,250$46,440+$14,810+31.89%
1-4 Years of Experience$64,800$49,160+$15,640+31.81%
5-9 Years of Experience$71,570$54,460+$17,110+31.42%
10-19 Years of Experience$80,490$62,210+$18,280+29.38%
20 Years or More Experience$90,800$65,390+$25,410+38.86%
Average Salary$74,610$55,870+$18,740+33.54%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


3. Metro Wise LPN VS. RN Salary In Iowa: How Much More Can You Earn As An RN?


MetroRN Average
Annual Salary
LPN Average
Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
Ames$74,450$56,640+$17,810+31.44%
Cedar Rapids$74,690$56,820+$17,870+31.45%
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island$73,220$56,730+$16,490+29.07%
Des Moines-West Des Moines$76,830$58,390+$18,440+31.58%
Dubuque$72,730$55,390+$17,340+31.31%
Iowa City$79,010$55,230+$23,780+43.06%
Sioux City$71,010$56,170+$14,840+26.42%
Waterloo-Cedar Falls$71,400$53,580+$17,820+33.26%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


4. LPN VS. RN Job Outlook In Iowa: Is The Job Outlook For RN Better Than LPN?


OccupationEmploymentNew Employment
Growth (2020-2030)
20202030Number%
RN33,11037,070+3,960+11.96%
LPN6,4307,330+900+14.00%
Difference+26,680+29,740+3,060-2.04%
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


5. LPN VS. RN Job Openings In Iowa: Are There More Job Openings For RN Compared To LPN?


OccupationNewReplacementAnnual Job Openings
(New + Replacement)
RN3961,8242,220
LPN90520610
Difference+306+1,304+1,610
(Source: Careeronestop.org)


6. Average LPN-to-RN Salary In Iowa VS. Average LPN-to-RN Salary In The Nation: Who Earns More?


Average Iowa
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Average National
LPN-to-RN Annual Salary
Difference
Number%
$74,610$94,480-$19,870-21.03%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.



Best LPN to RN Programs in other States
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin