3
Programs Ranked
$4,152
Lowest Tuition (WITCC)
44,000+
Iowa Insurance Employees
2
Fortune 500 HQs
Des Moines has been named the [world's third-largest insurance capital](https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/growth-studio/des-moines-iowa-insurance) after Hartford and New York (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). Iowa's insurance and financial services sector employs more than 44,000 people with a $3.5 billion annual payroll (Greater Des Moines Partnership). That concentration means associate's-level HR roles -- onboarding specialists processing new-hire batches, benefits coordinators administering group health plans, and claims HR assistants managing high-volume staffing -- are plentiful in a metro where the cost of living is roughly 12% below the national average.
The Insurance Capital's Entry-Level HR Pipeline
Insurance accounts for roughly 16% of Greater Des Moines employment, with more than 80 carriers, brokers, and financial services firms operating in the metro (Greater Des Moines Partnership). Principal Financial Group (Fortune 500), Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, EMC Insurance, FBL Financial Group, and dozens of smaller carriers create a concentration of benefits-focused employers that need HR assistants who understand group health plan enrollment, claims processing workflows, and onboarding for white-collar workforces.
An associate's degree in Human Resources is a practical entry point into this market. Waldorf University (#1, SHRM-aligned, 10 graduates, online) offers the strongest curriculum alignment at $23,800. Hawkeye Community College (#2, Waterloo, $6,119) and Western Iowa Tech (#3, Sioux City, $4,152) provide affordable community college pathways with transfer options to Iowa State University or the University of Iowa for a bachelor's in HR.
Beyond insurance, Iowa's agricultural economy drives seasonal HR hiring at John Deere (Waterloo manufacturing), grain processors, and meatpacking operations. Casey's General Stores (Fortune 500, HQ in Ankeny) and Collins Aerospace (Cedar Rapids) add retail and manufacturing HR demand. Associate's-level HR assistants in these sectors handle I-9 verification, bilingual onboarding for Spanish-speaking workers, and shift scheduling for 24/7 production operations. Ruan Transportation and Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids further diversify the entry-level pipeline, and Iowa's cost of living sits roughly 12% below the national average, giving associate's-level salaries more purchasing power than comparable metros.
Iowa HR Markets: Des Moines vs Cedar Rapids vs Davenport
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce / Greater Des Moines Partnership
Entry-Level HR Tracks by Iowa Industry
Principal Financial Group (Fortune 500) and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (1,878 employees) are among 80+ insurance employers in Greater Des Moines. Entry-level HR roles process onboarding for actuaries, underwriters, and claims adjusters; administer group benefits enrollment; and support recruiting for white-collar roles where professional certifications and continuing education tracking are part of the HR administrative workload.
John Deere's Waterloo Works manufactures tractors with thousands of production workers. Grain processors and meatpacking plants across Iowa add seasonal and year-round agricultural employment. HR assistants handle bilingual (English/Spanish) onboarding, I-9 verification, shift scheduling, and OSHA safety documentation for production environments.
Collins Aerospace (an RTX subsidiary) employs thousands in Cedar Rapids designing avionics, flight controls, and military communication systems. HR roles involve defense contractor compliance (ITAR, security clearances), technical recruiting support, and onboarding for engineers in a unionized manufacturing environment.
Casey's General Stores (Fortune 500, HQ in Ankeny) operates 2,500+ convenience stores across 16 states. Corporate HR in Ankeny manages recruiting strategy, benefits administration, and employee relations for a workforce spanning store-level, distribution, and corporate roles. Entry-level positions provide exposure to retail HR operations at national scale.
Waldorf University
Why #1: Waldorf University
One of few SHRM-aligned associate-level HR programs nationally, with online delivery for working adults in the Des Moines insurance market.
Waldorf offers an AA in Human Resource Management with SHRM-aligned curriculum, 60 credits, and fully online delivery. HLC-accredited.
Program Highlights
- SHRM-aligned curriculum
- Online
- HLC-accredited
- 60 credits
- 10 annual HR graduates (IPEDS 2023)
Key Strengths
- SHRM-aligned curriculum
- Online delivery
- HLC-accredited
Sources
Hawkeye Community College
Hawkeye offers an AAS in Human Resource Management with online delivery and an active SHRM student chapter. 14 annual graduates serve the Waterloo/Cedar Falls corridor near John Deere's manufacturing operations.
Program Highlights
- Online
- SHRM student chapter
- $6,119 tuition
- 14 annual HR graduates (IPEDS 2023)
Key Strengths
- SHRM student chapter
- Affordable
- John Deere corridor access
Sources
Western Iowa Tech Community College
WITCC offers an AAS in Human Resource Management with stackable credentials at Iowa's lowest community college tuition. 11 annual graduates serve the Sioux City and western Iowa market.
Program Highlights
- Stackable credentials
- Lowest tuition ($4,152)
- 11 annual HR graduates (IPEDS 2023)
Key Strengths
- Most affordable in Iowa
- Stackable credentials
Sources
| 1 | Waldorf University | Forest City, IA | For-Profit | $23,800 | 9200% | 10 | 30.6 |
| 2 | Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA | Public | $6,119 | — | 14 | 22.3 |
| 3 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | Public | $4,152 | — | 11 | 21.7 |
How to Start Your HR Career in Iowa
Enroll in an associate's at Western Iowa Tech ($4,152/year for stackable credentials) or Hawkeye Community College ($6,119 with SHRM student chapter), focusing on business administration and employment law fundamentals.
Target a part-time HR assistant or onboarding coordinator role at a Des Moines insurance carrier (Principal, Wellmark, EMC) where high-volume benefits enrollment creates steady entry-level openings.
Build transfer-ready credits toward Iowa State University's SHRM-aligned bachelor's in HRM ($8,982, 11 graduates) or the University of Iowa's Tippie College BBA ($9,016, 169 graduates).
Earn the [aPHR certification](/certifications/aphr/) to demonstrate foundational HR knowledge and differentiate yourself in Des Moines's concentrated insurance HR market.
Career Paths
Processes onboarding and benefits enrollment at Des Moines insurance carriers.
Manages new-hire paperwork, orientation scheduling, and compliance documentation.
Administers group health plans and answers enrollment questions at insurance or manufacturing employers.
Processes payroll for manufacturing shift workers or insurance office staff.
Salary by Experience Level
Iowa HR Associate's Programs FAQ
Associate's in HR Programs in Nearby States
IPEDS 2023, SHRM Academic Alignment, AACSB, ACBSP
HR degree completions from IPEDS 2023
SHRM alignment and AACSB/ACBSP accreditation
6-year graduation rate
Carnegie 2021 classification
IPEDS reporting completeness
Data Sources
Rankings based on the 5-factor HR Program Quality Index. Entry-level salaries estimated at 85% of HR specialist median for associate's graduates.
- 1.IPEDS 2023 — Program completions and tuition
- 2.BLS OES 2024 — HR occupation salaries
- 3.Greater Des Moines Partnership — Insurance industry data
Last updated: March 2026
Related Resources
Taylor Rupe
Education Researcher & Data Analyst
B.A. Psychology, University of Washington · B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State University
Taylor combines training in behavioral science with data analysis to evaluate HR education programs. His research methodology uses IPEDS completion data, BLS employment statistics, and SHRM alignment data to produce evidence-based program rankings.