Best Online Colleges in Iowa - Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Iowa. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Iowa, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Iowa or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Iowa State University’s Engineering
LAS Online Learning program offers a number of different degrees and certificates. Undergraduates can enroll in the bachelor of liberal arts program, which allows students to transfer up to 75% of required course credit from another institution. The flexibility of this degree allows students to select courses that adhere to their personal interests.
Graduate students have the option to enroll in more than 20 programs within a variety of fields, including engineering, science, education, and business. Iowa State also offers two online Ph.D. programs in philosophy.
The variety of options in graduate education make this one of the best online schools in Iowa for students seeking post-undergraduate studies. All online students at Iowa State, regardless of their degree level, have access to resources, including the campus Writing Center, Tutoring Center, and supplemental instruction sessions.
Graceland University - Lamoni
As one of the most successful online colleges in Iowa, Graceland University was nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as 22nd in the nation for “Best Graduate Online Education Program,” and number 20 for “Best Graduate Online Nursing Program.” These two graduate programs include a number of different concentrations, such as special education and classroom management, family nurse practitioner, and RN to MSN. Graceland also offers a doctoral program in nursing practice.
Other online programs include business administration, healthcare management, organizational leadership, and nursing. All of the courses and coursework in Graceland’s online programs are designed to be available entirely online.
The school offers a dual major program in business administration and organizational leadership. Students do not need any prior college credits to enter the program. The curriculum teaches the basics of business, including marketing and finance.
The University of Iowa
The University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, offers flexibility to distance learners by offering the choice between instructor-led courses with a more traditional schedule or courses that are self-paced and allow up to two full semesters for class completion.
Degrees are available for undergraduate and graduate learners. There are also non-degree certificate programs for students seeking professional development. The Schools of Liberal Arts, Science, and Business all offer a variety of accredited online programs, including radiation sciences, social work, political science, and enterprise leadership.
Graduate degrees are available in the fields of education, communication, nursing, social work, and others. One feature that makes UI stand out from other online colleges in Iowa is the “Zoom” virtual classroom software. This software is used to join on-campus classes and schedule face-to-face meetings with professors. It’s one of the best online schools in Iowa.
University of Northern Iowa
At the University of Northern Iowa, students have online options in certificate programs, undergraduate, and graduate studies. Courses are either taught entirely online or in a blended format requiring minimum in-person attendance on campus at Cedar Falls.
Programs are available in various fields, including criminal justice, non-profit development, liberal studies, and technology management. The school offers students the opportunity to engage with instructors and participate in real-time classes through Adobe Connect’s Interactive Video Conferences.
Guided Independent Study is also available for students who require more flexibility. It gives students the freedom to enroll at any time and take up to nine months for course completion under the guidance of a faculty member.
UNI is among online colleges in Iowa to offer an individual studies program for undergraduates and graduates. This program allows students to create a personalized curriculum that reflects their personal and career objectives.
Mount Mercy University
For the 2016-2017 school year, Mount Mercy University offered online courses at a 40% discount from the regular tuition price for undergraduate students. Mount Mercy is among online colleges in Iowa to offer affordable programs in four different concentrations: business, human resource management, nursing (RN to BSN program), and criminal justice.
Courses within the business major are taught in five-week and 10-week sessions. Business students are required to interact with other learners through online discussion, complete writing assignments and group projects, and take quizzes within certain time frames.
No prior college hours are required for admission to the online programs, and all four of the online programs are available on a rolling basis to accommodate your scheduling needs. There is a class start date scheduled in nearly every month of the year. Ninety-four percent of students are employed or in graduate school within nine months of graduation.