2025 Guide to Top Online Colleges Near Independence, Iowa
Looking for information about the best online colleges and universities serving Independence? Here's your guide to the top schools offering online degrees to students in the area, including
institutions located within 40 miles of Independence, Iowa.
There are at least 5 colleges
serving the area by offering distance learning programs, including 4 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 Independence, with details about trends, school type, online degree offerings, and online program completions. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Independence, Iowa Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near
Independence, Iowa have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed
2,270 distance education degree programs at online colleges and
universities near Independence. That was a decrease of 7% from completions reported in
2018.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2022
Est. Online Completions (Last 5 Years)
2018:2443
2019:2438
2020:2274
2021:2456
2022:2270
Estimate derived from 2022 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™ 2022 (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 Independence, Iowa
There are at least 4 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Independence, Iowa, where students completed
3,267 distance education
degree programs. Of those schools, 4 were private nonprofit
institutions and 1 was
a public school. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges
serving Independence, 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 Independence, 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 2022, 1,011 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
1,820
Associate: 94
Bachelor's: 1,011
Master's: 676
Doctoral: 39
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate64Bachelor's631Master's402Doctoral21
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate18Bachelor's89Master's24Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate3Bachelor's26Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate5Bachelor's107Master's101Doctoral15
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate4Bachelor's54Master's11Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's28Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's16Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's34Doctoral0
Visual and Performing ArtsAssociate0Bachelor's17Master's0Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's18Doctoral3
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's49Master's58Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$37,606 Accredited
Yes
Mount Mercy 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
Mount Mercy University. In 2022, 235 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 133 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
62%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
368
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 235
Master's: 133
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's95Master's73Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's14Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's125Master's43Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's3Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate0Bachelor's12Master's0Doctoral0
Philosophy and Religious StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's0Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$33,639 Accredited
Yes
Upper Iowa University 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
Upper Iowa University. In 2022, 741 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 79 associate degrees, 232 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
80%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
1,052
Associate: 79
Bachelor's: 741
Master's: 232
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate36Bachelor's296Master's132Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate6Bachelor's70Master's0Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate5Bachelor's107Master's1Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate32Bachelor's7Master's0Doctoral0
EngineeringAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's0Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's21Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's93Master's24Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's8Master's0Doctoral0
Visual and Performing ArtsAssociate0Bachelor's8Master's0Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's12Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's37Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's136Master's0Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's17Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$20,008 Accredited
Yes
Allen 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
Allen College. In 2022, 21 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 3 master's degrees, and 3 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
11%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
27
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 21
Master's: 3
Doctoral: 3
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's21Master's3Doctoral3
Affordable Online Colleges Near Independence, Iowa
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree near Independence, Iowa? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average
tuition at Independence-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $25,208. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit
schools near Independence is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
Accredited
Online Colleges Serving Independence, 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 Independence, Iowa is institutionally accredited? View a list of
institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Independence, Iowa here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
Accredited Online Nonprofit Colleges Serving Independence, Iowa
- Franklin University
- Allen College
- Mount Mercy University
- Upper Iowa University
Accredited Online Community Colleges Serving Independence, Iowa
- Hawkeye Community College
Find Online Degrees Near Independence, Iowa