The Best Online Colleges in Iowa
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Iowa has set an ambitious goal of ensuring that 70% of its workforce has some postsecondary education by 2025.
An online degree can help Iowans stand out in the job market. Iowa is home to prestigious public institutions like the University of Iowa, along with private schools such as Drake University, Grinnell College, and Cornell College. The extensive community and technical college system in Iowa includes 15 institutions, serving learners throughout the state.
Online colleges in Iowa offer opportunities to earn bachelor’s degrees from anywhere in the state, often on an accelerated timeline. Many of the online programs offered through community and technical colleges in Iowa allow for direct transfer to four-year institutions. Community colleges in Iowa also participate in the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC), which further expands online education opportunities.
Online students in Iowa can also enroll in graduate programs, including degrees aligning with some of the state’s top industries. Iowa State’s online master’s degrees include programs in agriculture, engineering, and business.
The following ranked list of online colleges in Iowa offers insight into which colleges and universities might meet your educational and professional needs.
Featured Online Schools
The Best Online Colleges in Iowa
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,810
- Out-of-state$30,810
- In-State$21,060
- Out-of-state$21,060
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled4,279
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Iowa State University
- Ames, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,042
- Out-of-state$23,230
- In-State$9,758
- Out-of-state$24,720
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled33,372
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment23%
- AccreditationYes
Buena Vista University
- Storm Lake, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$35,194
- Out-of-state$35,194
- In-State$9,594
- Out-of-state$9,594
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate57%
- Students Enrolled1,815
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
Graceland University
- Lamoni, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$29,750
- Out-of-state$29,750
- In-State$17,430
- Out-of-state$17,430
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled1,733
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
University of Northern Iowa
- Cedar Falls, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,665
- Out-of-state$19,949
- In-State$9,159
- Out-of-state$21,375
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled10,477
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment26%
- AccreditationYes
University of Iowa
- Iowa City, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,073
- Out-of-state$30,036
- In-State$10,079
- Out-of-state$29,026
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled31,240
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
Briar Cliff University
- Sioux City, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,988
- Out-of-state$30,988
- In-State$9,450
- Out-of-state$9,450
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,129
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
Iowa Wesleyan University
- Mount Pleasant, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$24,424
- Out-of-state$30,530
- In-State$5,940
- Out-of-state$5,940
- Retention Rate55%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled622
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment30%
- AccreditationYes
William Penn University
- Oskaloosa, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,100
- Out-of-state$26,100
- In-State$9,398
- Out-of-state$9,398
- Retention Rate56%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled1,258
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
Mount Mercy University
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,862
- Out-of-state$32,862
- In-State$10,296
- Out-of-state$10,296
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate66%
- Students Enrolled1,807
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Colleges
Iowa
2022
Online Colleges in Iowa Ranking Guidelines
We selected the online schools in Iowa based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, and faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.
Employment in Iowa
Manufacturing, trade, and healthcare topped the list of Iowa’s top industries in 2018. Because Iowa exports so many vehicles, tractors, and parts; agricultural products; and electrical machinery, it also employs large numbers of machine operators and farmworkers. The state is also seeing projected growth in employment for healthcare workers, indicating a need for physical therapists and nurses.
The unemployment rate in Iowa as of December 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), was 3.1%. This is a significant drop from 6.8% in July of the same year. Iowa also had a much lower unemployment rate than the 6.5% national average in December.
Iowa also has a significantly lower cost of living than the average nationwide. With a cost of living index of just under 84%, Iowa offers more affordable housing and transportation expenses than other states. The median cost of a home in Iowa is nearly $100,000 lower than the national figure.
The data below covers some of the highest-paying roles employing more than 2,000 individuals in Iowa that do not require a first-professional degree, like a doctor of medicine or juris doctor. Salary information applies specifically to Iowa, while job growth data reflects the United States as a whole.
| Career | Annual Mean Salary (2019) | Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $155,180 | 5% | Bachelor’s |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,830 | 21% | Master’s |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $123,750 | 3% | Bachelor’s |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $123,570 | 10% | Bachelor’s |
| Sales Managers | $119,390 | 4% | Bachelor’s |
| Financial Managers | $116,590 | 15% | Bachelor’s |
| Marketing Managers | $115,960 | 7% | Bachelor’s |
The following data reflects some of the highest-paying roles employing more than 5,000 professionals in Iowa. Salary figures apply specifically to Iowa, while job growth data reflects the United States as a whole.
| Career | Annual Mean Salary (2019) | Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $99,740 | 6% | Bachelor’s |
| Software Developers, Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $95,370 | 22% | Bachelor’s |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $87,940 | 32% | Bachelor’s |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $85,040 | 7% | Bachelor’s |
| Management Analysts | $81,440 | 11% | Bachelor’s |
Online Associate and Graduate Degrees
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many colleges and universities to expand their online offerings. This benefits students who may not have local options for earning degrees, but can now enroll remotely. Unlike their on-campus counterparts, online degrees may allow learners to study asynchronously and earn degrees on a more flexible schedule.
Online colleges in Iowa, many of which participate in the ICCOC, offer associate degrees in high-demand fields like agriculture. Community and technical colleges in Iowa also offer online associate degrees for students looking to transfer to four-year programs.
For instance, Western Iowa Technical Community College features online associate degrees in agriculture agronomy, business, and management. Schools outside of the ICCOC also provide online associate degrees, such as Iowa Central Community College, which offers criminal justice, computer networking, and healthcare administration degrees.
Iowa students can also earn graduate degrees online. At Iowa State, online students can earn master of science degrees in agricultural education, plant breeding, or seed technology and business. Drake University offers online graduate degrees, too, including a master of science in health informatics and analytics — ideal for students with previous degrees in healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
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