Quick Facts

• Location: Creston, Iowa
• Address: 1501 W Townline St, Creston, IA 50801
• School Type: Public Community & Technical College
• Programs Offered: Welding Technology, Electrical Technology, Automotive Repair Technology, Auto Collision Repair/Refinish, Carpentry & Building Trades, Applied Engineering Technology and more
• Training Style: Hands-on technical labs, classroom instruction, certificates, diplomas and associate degrees
• Tuition Range: $242 per credit for Iowa residents for 2026–27; $249 per credit for out-of-state students; online courses $234 per credit
• Program Length: Certificates typically 4–6 months; diplomas less than 2 years; AAS programs generally 2 years
• Online Programs Available: Yes, selected courses/programs
• Hybrid Learning: Available in selected coursework; core skilled-trade programs require substantial in-person training
• Financial Aid: FAFSA, grants, loans, scholarships and work-study for qualifying students/programs
• Class Options: Primarily campus-based for skilled trades, with selected online coursework
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; also accredited by the Iowa Department of Education
• FAFSA School Code: 001857
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.5 (37 Reviews)
• Website: Official website

Overview

Southwestern Community College is a public two-year college in Creston with a particularly useful group of hands-on trades and industry programs. Students can train in welding, electrical technology, automotive repair, collision repair, carpentry/building trades and applied engineering without the higher tuition commonly associated with private career schools.

SWCC is also investing heavily in these programs. In April 2026, the college broke ground on a new 15,040-square-foot skilled-trades facility that will add classroom and laboratory space for carpentry/building trades and electrical technology. A second phase will renovate another 9,500 square feet to expand welding training. Construction is scheduled for completion in December 2026.

Programs Offered

Trade-focused options include:

• Welding Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Automotive Repair Technology
• Auto Collision Repair/Refinish
• Carpentry & Building Trades
• Applied Engineering Technology

High-school students can also participate in career academies in welding, automotive repair, collision repair, electrical technology, carpentry/building trades and applied engineering.

Welding Technology

SWCC offers Welding Technology at the Creston campus through certificate, diploma and Associate of Applied Science pathways. Certificates are generally designed around four-to-six-month blocks of career coursework, while the AAS is a two-year degree.

Training includes processes and subjects such as:

• SMAW / Stick welding
• Flux-core arc welding
• GTAW / TIG
• Oxy-acetylene welding, cutting and brazing
• Welding blueprint reading
• Fabrication

Current faculty schedules confirm extensive hands-on welding instruction in SWCC’s Technical Center.

Career possibilities include fabrication welding, agricultural-equipment repair, manufacturing, maintenance welding and construction-related ironwork.

Electrical Technology

Electrical Technology is also based at the Creston campus and is available through certificate, diploma and two-year AAS pathways.

Training can include:

• Introduction to wiring
• Technical mathematics
• Blueprint reading
• Advanced wiring systems
• National Electrical Code
• Residential electrical services
• DC theory
• Motor controls

A particularly important distinction is that SWCC’s Electrical Technology program is approved by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board Post-Secondary Electrical Program.

Potential career paths include industrial maintenance electrician, electrical contractor support positions, estimating, inspection and specialty electrical work. State licensing and experience requirements still apply.

Automotive Repair Technology

Automotive Repair Technology is a Creston-campus program covering:

• Electrical circuits
• Brakes
• Steering and suspension
• Alignment
• Automotive HVAC
• Powertrain fundamentals
• Engine repair
• Fuel systems
• Electronic engine controls

The program provides an AAS route, and SWCC’s automotive faculty includes ASE Master-certified technicians.

Students can also pursue Auto Collision Repair/Refinish. One unusual option allows students who finish two years of collision training to return for an additional year of mechanical training and earn a second AAS in Automotive Repair Technology.

Tuition & Financial Aid

For the 2026–27 academic year, SWCC approved:

• Iowa resident tuition and fees — $242 per credit
• Out-of-state tuition and fees — $249 per credit
• Online tuition and fees — $234 per credit

That would put a 15-credit Iowa-resident semester at roughly $3,630 before books, specialized tools and other program-specific expenses.

Federal and state financial aid is available to qualifying students. Options can include:

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal student loans
• Work-study
• Institutional/Foundation scholarships
• Other state and private assistance

SWCC’s FAFSA school code is 001857.

Accreditation

Southwestern Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Iowa Department of Education.

Its Electrical Technology program also carries Iowa Electrical Examining Board PSEP approval.

Why Students Choose This School

• Public community-college pricing
• Strong welding and electrical programs
• Automotive and collision-repair pathways
• Certificates through associate degrees
• New skilled-trades facility under construction
• Financial aid for qualifying students
• High-school career academy opportunities
• Electrical program with Iowa-specific approval

Career Opportunities

Depending on the program, graduates may pursue entry-level work as:

• Welder/Fabricator
• Maintenance Welder
• Automotive Technician
• Collision Repair Technician
• Electrical Technician
• Electrician Apprentice
• Industrial Maintenance Worker
• Construction Trades Worker

Electrical licensing and apprenticeship requirements should be verified separately before assuming that graduation alone qualifies a student for independent electrical work.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google listing data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.5 (37 Reviews)

Because Southwestern is a full community college, students should give more weight to recent feedback about their particular welding, automotive or electrical department than to the overall campus rating.

Enrollment Tips

Students interested in the trades should ask how the new facility opening around the end of 2026 will affect their labs, course locations and equipment access.

Also compare the certificate, diploma and AAS options before enrolling. A short credential may get you working sooner, while the AAS provides a broader technical education and generally gives you more transferable college credit.

Bottom Line

Southwestern Community College is a strong public trade-school option in southern Iowa, particularly for welding, electrical technology, automotive and collision repair. Its biggest strengths are affordable public tuition, multiple credential levels and a major expansion of its skilled-trades facilities now underway. For a student who wants hands-on training without paying private trade-school prices, SWCC deserves a prominent position on the Iowa page.