2025 Guide to Top Online Colleges Near Des Moines, Iowa
Looking for information about the best online colleges and universities serving Des Moines? Here's your guide to the top schools offering online degrees to students in the area, including
institutions located within 20 miles of Des Moines, Iowa.
There are at least 7 colleges
serving the area by offering distance learning programs, including 7 nonprofit online colleges, 0 for-profit online colleges, and 1 community college offering 2-year online degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of online colleges serving Des Moines, with details about trends, school type, online degree offerings, and online program completions. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Des Moines, Iowa Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near
Des Moines, Iowa have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed
1,348 distance education degree programs at online colleges and
universities near Des Moines. That was a decrease of 24% from completions reported in
2019.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2023
Est. Online Completions (Last 5 Years)
2019:1774
2020:1962
2021:1331
2022:1136
2023:1348
Estimate derived from 2023 Lightcast™ completion data.
Top Online College for Busy Adults & Transfer Students
Franklin University is a top choice for online learners, transfer students 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 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Adult Students
77%
Students 25+ 77
Students Under 25 23
Source: College Scorecard 2022
Undergraduate Cost / Credit Hour
Best Nonprofit Online Colleges Serving Des Moines, Iowa
There are at least 7 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Des Moines, Iowa, where students completed
3,277 distance education
degree programs. Of those schools, 7 were private nonprofit
institutions and 0 were public schools. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges
serving Des Moines, including an estimate about online degree availability and popular online degree
programs. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Source Details
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$9,577 Accredited
Yes
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Des Moines, 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 2023, 1,429 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
2,171
Associate: 88
Bachelor's: 1,429
Master's: 616
Doctoral: 38
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate69Bachelor's801Master's313Doctoral17
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate13Bachelor's106Master's31Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate1Bachelor's26Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate2Bachelor's157Master's128Doctoral15
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate3Bachelor's163Master's10Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's44Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's4Master's31Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's100Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's10Doctoral6
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's50Master's49Doctoral0
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$22,360 Accredited
Yes
Mercy College of Health Sciences 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
Mercy College of Health Sciences. In 2023, 319 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 2 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
87%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
321
Associate: 2
Bachelor's: 319
Master's: 0
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate2Bachelor's319Master's0Doctoral0
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$19,530 Accredited
Yes
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 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. Associate degrees are the most popular at
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. In 2023, 12 distance education associate degrees were completed. In addition, 7 bachelor's degrees, 12 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
48%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
31
Associate: 12
Bachelor's: 7
Master's: 12
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$49,944 Accredited
Yes
Drake 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. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Drake University. In 2023, 264 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 47 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
20%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
311
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 47
Master's: 264
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's87Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's18Doctoral0
Legal Professions and StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's23Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's47Master's40Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's46Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's12Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's38Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$46,212 Accredited
Yes
Simpson College 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
Simpson College. In 2023, 65 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 5 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
19%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
70
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 65
Master's: 5
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's40Master's0Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's25Master's5Doctoral0
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
N/A Accredited
Yes
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center 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. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center. In 2023, 77 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
17%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
77
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 77
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's77Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$33,450 Accredited
Yes
Grand View 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 some programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
Grand View University. In 2023, 212 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 84 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
56%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
296
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 212
Master's: 84
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's103Master's12Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's8Master's0Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's15Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's18Master's2Doctoral0
Legal Professions and StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's28Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's28Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's41Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's18Master's0Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate0Bachelor's34Master's0Doctoral0
Affordable Online Colleges Near Des Moines, Iowa
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree near Des Moines, Iowa? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average
tuition at Des Moines-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $30,179. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit
schools near Des Moines is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
Accredited
Online Colleges Serving Des Moines, Iowa
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a college 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 near Des Moines, Iowa is institutionally accredited? View a list of
institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Des Moines, Iowa here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
Accredited Online Nonprofit Colleges Serving Des Moines, Iowa
- Franklin University
- Drake University
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
- Grand View University
- Mercy College of Health Sciences
- Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
- Simpson College
Accredited Online Community Colleges Serving Des Moines, Iowa
- Des Moines Area Community College
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