Admission Requirements

Students must be at least 16 years of age and have reasonable manual dexterity. We have successfully worked with a variety of physical handicaps; contact the school with any concern.

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Enrollment

Our taxidermy school accepts only 10 students per training session. Enrollment is continuous and on a first-come, first-serve basis. To enroll, students must submit a completed application form along with a $1,500 deposit which is applied toward the tuition fee. The $1,500 is fully refundable if application is denied.

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Financial Aid

Financial aid of up to 50% of the tuition is available through the Northwest Iowa School of Taxidermy. Qualified students may apply this money toward taxidermy school tuition and specimens. An application for financial aid is available upon request and is interest free for the first year.

 

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Refunds

A student unable to complete the taxidermy course forfeits the entire tuition. Exceptions will be made at the discretion of the school if withdrawal is due to a personal emergency, where a prorated amount will be determined.

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Tuition & Fees

The tuition for the full nine-week course of taxidermy training is $13,350. THIS INCLUDES A $2,500 CREDIT TOWARDS YOUR SPECIMEN AND SUPPLIES. After the deposit has been paid, the existing balance of tuition ($11,850) must be paid on the first day of class. Tuition includes instruction in all techniques used by the Matuska Taxidermy Studio and all trade secrets. Students will encounter NO hidden costs during the training program. Included in the tuition are all tools and equipments to be used while in school including chemicals, glues, paint and incidental expendable supplies along with a $2,500 credit to be used towards your specimen and supplies. In addition, students will receive a toolbox complete with basic tools used every day (theirs to keep) along with fish patterns and paint schedules as well as a variety of supply catalogs. Each student will be issued dry storage bins for furs and hides and freezer storage needed for fish, birds, and small animals.

 

Included:

• $2,500 specimen/supply credit

• Use of all tools and equipment

• Miscellaneous expendable supplies (chemicals, glues, paint, etc.)

• Toolbox complete with basic tools used every day (yours to keep)

• Fish patterns and paint schedules (yours to keep)

• Dry storage bins for furs/hides and freezer storage needed for fish, birds, and small animals

• Protective Gear

• A variety of supply catalogs

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*Prices are subject to change.
*Tuition does not include housing expenses.

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Veterans Administration

We are approved for Veterans’ Education Benefits. Students eligible for benefits are encouraged to contact our admissions office and their local VA representative for details.

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Visits

We encourage you to make a personal visit to our taxidermy school to gain a better understanding of our program. It is imperative that you know exactly what you are getting in return for your investment. Please call ahead so you can be assured of prompt attention on arrival. If a personal visit is not possible, feel free to call our staff for more detailed information.