Colleges Near Council Bluffs, Iowa
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Council Bluffs? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 20 miles of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
There are at least 11 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 2 public colleges and universities, and 2 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Council Bluffs, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Council Bluffs, Iowa Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Council Bluffs, Iowa have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2024, students completed 13,089 doctorates at colleges and universities near Council Bluffs. That was an increase of 4% from completions reported in 2020.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2024
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Council Bluffs, Iowa
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near Council Bluffs, Iowa, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 21,661 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2024, a total of 8,661 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 6,395 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Council Bluffs, Iowa area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2024, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
College of Saint Mary is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at College of Saint Mary. In 2024, 138 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 115 master's degrees, and 56 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
502
Completions By Degree
309
Est. Online Degree Availability
6%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology. In 2024, 12 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
24
Completions By Degree
12
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Creighton University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Creighton University. In 2024, 1,302 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 1 associate degree, 434 master's degrees, and 867 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,261
Completions By Degree
2,604
Est. Online Degree Availability
29%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Clarkson College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Clarkson College. In 2024, 145 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 43 associate degrees, 94 master's degrees, and 24 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
631
Completions By Degree
306
Est. Online Degree Availability
96%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and most programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health. In 2024, 243 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 62 associate degrees, 91 master's degrees, and 54 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
808
Completions By Degree
450
Est. Online Degree Availability
79%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Bellevue University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Bellevue University. In 2024, 1,852 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 23 associate degrees, 902 master's degrees, and 32 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
10,318
Completions By Degree
2,809
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Council Bluffs, Iowa
There are 2 four-year public colleges located near Council Bluffs, Iowa. About 12,727 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 4,509 degrees were completed at public colleges near Council Bluffs. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Nebraska at Omaha is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 2024, 2,481 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 869 master's degrees, and 31 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
11,866
Completions By Degree
3,381
Est. Online Degree Availability
39%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Nebraska Medical Center is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2024, 435 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 294 master's degrees, and 399 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
861
Completions By Degree
1,128
Est. Online Degree Availability
13%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Council Bluffs, Iowa
There are 2 community colleges near Council Bluffs, Iowa where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2024, about 9,890 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Council Bluffs, and about 2,090 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Metropolitan Community College Area is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,653
Completions By Degree
1,383
Est. Online Degree Availability
56%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Iowa Western Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,237
Completions By Degree
707
Est. Online Degree Availability
50%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Council Bluffs, Iowa
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Council Bluffs, Iowa? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Council Bluffs-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $18,444. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Council Bluffs is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Council Bluffs, Iowa
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Council Bluffs, Iowa is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Council Bluffs, Iowa here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Bellevue University
- Clarkson College
- Creighton University
- CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology
- Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
- College of Saint Mary
- Metropolitan Community College Area
- Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Council Bluffs? What's the Council Bluffs, Iowa job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2024, there were about 631,222 jobs in the Council Bluffs, Iowa area. From 2023-2024, job growth in Council Bluffs was below the national average, at 1.2%. There were 77,660 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Council Bluffs do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $22.4.