Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Kirkwood Community College Medical Assistant Programs
What Medical Assistant Programs Does Kirkwood Community College Offer?
Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa offers 2 medical assisting programs (diploma and associate degree). Medical Assisting Diploma is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. The lowest-cost option, Medical Assisting Diploma, comes to $9,847 total. Programs run 64 weeks.
2 Medical Assistant Programs at Kirkwood Community College
- DiplomaCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $9,847published total, 2026-27
- Length
- 64 wk4 semesters including prerequisites
- Credits
- 43
- Externship
- Included
- CMAAAMA
- Associate degree
- Cost
- $14,198published total, 2026-27
- Length
- 64 wk4 semesters including prerequisites
- Credits
- 62
- Externship
- Included
- CMAAAMA
Kirkwood Community College's Programs Side by Side
| Program | Credential | Format | Length | Externship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Diploma, Kirkwood Community College | Diploma | 64 weeks | Included | $9,847published total, 2026-27 | |
| Medical Assisting A.A.S., Kirkwood Community College | Associate degree | 64 weeks | Included | $14,198published total, 2026-27 |
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Medical Assisting Diploma: The Details
- Length
- 4 semesters including prerequisites
- Hours or credits
- 43 credits
- Externship
- Practicum in an ambulatory care clinic
- Certification
- Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
- Start dates
- Fall; Spring; Summer
- Admission
- Mandatory program conference; Basic Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits) with C- or better; placement scores or course equivalents
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $9,847 in-state tuition; $14,730 estimated total cost2026-27. Source: kirkwood.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Published total
- $9,847The school's own program total.
- Outcomes the school publishes
- Five-year averages 2020-2024: retention 87.05%, job placement 59.67%, CMA exam passage 81.40%Reported for 2020-2024.
Medical Assisting Diploma at Kirkwood Community College: full program profileKirkwood Community College diploma page on kirkwood.edu ↗
Medical Assisting A.A.S.: The Details
- Length
- 4 semesters including prerequisites
- Hours or credits
- 62 credits
- Externship
- Practicum in an ambulatory care clinic
- Certification
- Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
- Start dates
- Fall; Spring; Summer
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $14,198 in-state tuition; $19,131 estimated total cost2026-27. Source: kirkwood.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Published total
- $14,198The school's own program total.
- Outcomes the school publishes
- Five-year averages 2020-2024: retention 87.05%, job placement 59.67%, CMA exam passage 81.40%Reported for 2020-2024.
Medical Assisting A.A.S. at Kirkwood Community College: full program profileKirkwood Community College associate degree page on kirkwood.edu ↗
From Kirkwood Community College's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
How Kirkwood Community College Compares
- Medical Assisting Diploma costs $9,847, against a median of $17,215 across 304 priced diploma programs on this site.
- Medical Assisting Diploma runs 64 weeks; the median for diploma programs is 40 weeks.
- Medical Assisting A.A.S. costs $14,198, against a median of $12,661 across 137 priced associate degree programs on this site.
- Medical Assisting A.A.S. runs 64 weeks; the median for associate degree programs is 78 weeks.
Medical assistants in Iowa earn a median of $45,480 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.
Work out what Kirkwood Community College's diploma costs you after aid
Is Kirkwood Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assisting Diploma is listed by CAAHEP (directory captured October 12, 2026). Accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB (CAAHEP directory, October 12, 2026), so graduates meet the standard education route for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
The accreditor's listing covers Medical Assisting Diploma; Medical Assisting A.A.S. is a different credential and isn't covered by it.
Medical Assisting Awards at Kirkwood Community College
| Award level | Awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Certificates of one to two years | 47 |
| Associate degrees | 42 |
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 89 medical assisting awards conferred by Kirkwood Community College in 2022-23, 147th of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes.
More Medical Assistant Schools in Iowa
- Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny · certificate · accredited
- Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport · diploma
- Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa Falls · diploma
- Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo · diploma · accredited
- Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge · diploma and associate degree · accredited
- Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown · diploma · accredited
- Mercy College of Health Sciences (now Mercy Health Sciences University)Des Moines · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City · diploma · accredited
- Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar · diploma · accredited
- Ross College-DavenportDavenport · diploma
- Medical assistant programs in IowaEvery local program, plus online options for residents
Kirkwood Community College Medical Assisting: Common Questions
Is Kirkwood Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assisting Diploma is listed by CAAHEP (directory captured October 12, 2026). Accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB (CAAHEP directory, October 12, 2026), so graduates meet the standard education route for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
How Much Does Kirkwood Community College's Medical Assistant Program Cost?
Medical Assisting Diploma: $9,847 in-state tuition; $14,730 estimated total cost (2026-27). Medical Assisting A.A.S.: $14,198 in-state tuition; $19,131 estimated total cost (2026-27).
How Long Is Kirkwood Community College's Medical Assistant Program?
Medical Assisting Diploma: 4 semesters including prerequisites (43 credits). Medical Assisting A.A.S.: 4 semesters including prerequisites (62 credits).
Does Kirkwood Community College Include an Externship?
Yes. Medical Assisting Diploma: Practicum in an ambulatory care clinic. Medical Assisting A.A.S.: Practicum in an ambulatory care clinic.
Which Certification Exams Does Kirkwood Community College Prepare You For?
Medical Assisting Diploma names the CMA (AAMA). Medical Assisting A.A.S. names the CMA (AAMA).
What Do You Need to Apply to Kirkwood Community College?
Medical Assisting Diploma: Mandatory program conference; Basic Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits) with C- or better; placement scores or course equivalents.
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Sources
- kirkwood.edu: Medical Assisting Diploma program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
- kirkwood.edu: Medical Assisting A.A.S. program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
- CAAHEP, accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.0801 (medical/clinical assistant)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Assistants, Iowa