Find the best online colleges in Iowa ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.
In the Fall of 2020, Iowa reported 208,220 students enrolled in degree-granting academic institutions, indicating one of America’s highest enrollment rates amid the pandemic.
The best online colleges in Iowa provide a variety of academic programs in in-demand fields of study, including healthcare, engineering, business administration, and education.
Here are the most popular online programs offered in Iowa:
Undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration are common in most online colleges and universities in Iowa. Distance learners gain foundational knowledge in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and other key areas of business administration.
While most courses are completed online, some online schools require in-person attendance, like internships.
Social science-related academic programs include psychology and social work, training distance learners to become knowledgeable and skilled in the education and healthcare sectors. Online students may complete courses in secondary education, counseling, and childhood development.
A variety of social sciences online programs in Iowa can lead to licensure and certification in different areas of specialization.
Online academic programs in communication enhance students’ communication skills, a highly-valued skill in many professions. Distance learners pursuing this program are trained on how to speak and write professionally.
A variety of specializations are also offered by many online colleges and universities in Iowa, including broadcasting, sports communication, and field reporting.
Thanks to Iowa’s manufacturing industries, engineering graduates enjoy a variety of career opportunities in the state. Although engineering is an academic path itself, Iowa’s online schools offer different specializations in the field, including civil, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and chemical engineering.
Engineering degree-holders can find work in the local, federal, and regional government.
Aspiring students can save on tuition expenses and other fees by applying to schools in their home state. As an overview, here are the tuition rates for undergraduate programs in different degree-granting schools in Iowa:
Online colleges and universities in Iowa have 5.83% less than the national average cost of attendance at a public 4-year institution.
Given the significant difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, students can qualify for in-state tuition in Iowa.
To become eligible, they must provide proof that they have resided in the state for at least 12 months for reasons other than schooling. Students can either provide a driver’s license, income tax returns, or employment records to demonstrate their residency in Iowa.
Out-of-state students living in a state that is a member of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact can also be qualified to receive discounted tuition rates from Iowa colleges and universities.
Some schools in Iowa offer flat-rate tuition fees, which means that both in-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition fees. Distance learners must verify first with their prospective schools regarding detailed information about residency requirements.
As Iowa has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S., with just 2.9% in October 2022, college graduates enjoy job opportunities that match their skills.
Determining the accreditation status of an online college or university you’re planning to enroll in is crucial. Accreditation ensures that students’ academic credits are eligible to receive financial aid.
Additionally, it indicates that specific standards of professional and academic quality are met.
The most reputable accreditation for the majority of online programs in the U.S. is granted by regional accrediting agencies. Iowa’s regional accrediting agency is The Higher Learning Commission.
It is the same accrediting agency responsible for accrediting online schools for undergraduate and graduate programs in Wyoming, West Virginia, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, and Arkansas.
With a large number of both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Iowa, students have plenty of great schools to choose from.
Iowa’s largest public university, Iowa State University, serves over 30,000 students and offers extra flexibility for both undergraduate and graduate students through a selection of online degree programs in more than 50 academic fields including business administration, psychology, computer science, and more.
The University of Iowa-home of the Hawkeyes-is also home to some of the nation’s top programs in literature, philosophy, and law. The University of Iowa has also been at the forefront of higher education, starting the nation’s first co-educational medical school, as well as being the first public school to grant a law degree to a woman, Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, in 1873.
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For prospective students hoping to obtain their degrees at a smaller school, Iowa offers over 40 options to choose from. For a more affordable option, students can pay $4,000 per year for tuition at Indian Hills Community College. Like most community colleges in Georgia, Indian Hills also offers an array of online programs.
At the other end of the spectrum, students will pay up to $52,000 for an academic year at Grinnell College. Furthermore, nearly half of the schools in Iowa are religiously affiliated.
Iowa is often recognized for its agriculture as it produces the most pork and corn in the nation. Equally noteworthy is Iowa’s wealth of one-of-a-kind roadside attractions. From the largest wooden nickel, to the crookedest street, to the Grotto of Redemption, The Hawkeye State is full of wonders. Students in search of curiosities and oddities while earning a degree can attend one of Iowa’s public or private colleges.
Whether you’re looking to earn your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Iowa offers a wealth of on-campus and online learning options. Discover more about Iowa’s top brick-and-mortar and online programs as well as top career paths in the state of Iowa.
The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in Iowa.
Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
74%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1210/25
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
76%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1160/24
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
78%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1225/26
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
69%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/23
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
54%
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<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1022/22
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
47%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1000/20
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
23%
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<1K
Median SAT/ACT
920/18
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
35%
Student body
2K
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
51%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/20
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
64%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/22
Tuition + fees
$44K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
69%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1135/23
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
71%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/23
Tuition + fees
$34K
Graduation
56%
Student body
<1K
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
54%
Student body
2K
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
32%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
74%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1171/25
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
60%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
39%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
953/20
Tuition + fees
$24K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
31%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/19
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
100%
Student body
<1K
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
58%
Student body
<1K