Iowa Lakes Community College

Located in Estherville, Iowa, Iowa Lakes Community College offers a dual associate degree that emcompasses a pilot pathway and a management pathway in one degree.

Program Highlights

Iowa Lakes Community College hosts an FAA-approved Part 141 pilot school to provide ground and pilot training. Flight training occurs at the Estherville Municipal Airport (KEST), only five minutes from the main campus.

The dual program at Iowa Lakes Community College is:

• Associate of Applied Science
  • Aviation and Airport Management

The aviation program is only five terms or 1.5 years.

Value

Iowa Lakes Community College’s base tuition is very affordable. In-state tuition will run approximately $4,000 a year; out-of-state will be slightly higher at $4,500 a year. Base tuition does not include flight expenses.

Flight students will benefit from average flight costs. To progress from private to multiengine, students will pay approximately $50,000.

The college offers many aviation scholarships for students to reduce costs even more, including the:

● Last-Dollar Scholarship
● Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship
● Women in Aviation Scholarships

The school has awarded nearly $905,000 in scholarships, with the average student receiving $2,300.

The school also accepts veteran’s benefits such as the GI Bill.

Fleet and Facilities

Iowa Lakes Community College hosts a relatively large fleet that includes:

● Cessna 172s
● Piper Arrows
● Cirrus SR20s
● Piper Cubs
● Piper Senecas
● Beech Debonairs

Graduates will be eligible for a R-ATP.

Campus Life

Even though Iowa Lakes Community College is a small community college, the school still offers on-campus housing and dining options.

For students looking for some organizations to get involved in, the school hosts more than 25 student clubs and organizations, including:
● Laker Leaders
● Student Senate
● Powersports Club

The school also is home to a few Greek chapters.

The school is home to the ILCC Lakers, the school’s athletic teams. Students who do not want to take sports too seriously can join an intramural or club sports team, or just pop into the Smith Wellness Center on campus.

The Bottom Line

Iowa Lakes Community College is home to an FAA Part 141 flight school where students can gain an associate degree in both management and professional pilot in just a year and a half. A large fleet located just five minutes from campus gives flexibility to students. While the community college is small, it’s still able to offer some traditional college experiences.