2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education opportunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in Iowa to see which online associate degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
Featured schools near , edit
Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found Eastern Iowa Community College District to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in Iowa. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a public institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 846 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, associate degree students take out $20,417 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southeastern Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree. Located in West Burlington, Iowa, the small public school handed out 408 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,090 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Southeastern Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,240. On average, associate degree students take out $16,052 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waldorf University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 177 students in 2020-2021.
If you want to attend Waldorf, expect to pay an average of $23,666 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Waldorf accumulate an average of $22,165 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 38% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Iowa Lakes Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree. Located in Estherville, Iowa, the small public school awarded 312 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $6,844 in tuition and fees if they attend Iowa Lakes Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,196. Associate Degree recipients from Iowa Lakes Community College accumulate an average of $19,864 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent associate degree programs at Northeast Iowa Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Iowa. This small public school is located in Calmar, Iowa, and it awarded 454 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NICC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,840. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 55% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #6, Southwestern Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. Southwestern Community College is a small public school located in Creston, Iowa that handed out 247 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Iowa who attend SWCC full time pay an average of $6,060 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,270. On average, associate degree students take out $13,617 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Upper Iowa University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 102 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
UIU does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $33,609. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $28,281 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school located in Sheldon, Iowa that handed out 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northwest Iowa Community College is $6,540. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,840. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,567 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
Ellsworth Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa list. Ellsworth is a public institution located in Iowa Falls, Iowa. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 140 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $5,040 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Ellsworth. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,048. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,285 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,654 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $5,308 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Kirkwood Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,072. On average, associate degree students take out $19,972 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #11, Indian Hills Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the small public school handed out 538 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
On average, associate degree students take out $17,117 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Around 36% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 422 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Iowa who attend Western Iowa Tech Community College full time pay an average of $4,802 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,826. Associate Degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College accumulate an average of $17,167 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
In 2019-2020 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. North Iowa Area Community College is a small public school located in Mason City, Iowa that handed out 580 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $5,971 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend North Iowa Area Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,547. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,157 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, North Iowa Area Community College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 12 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
FBBC&TS does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $18,180. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Iowa Central Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and it awarded 777 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Iowa who attend Iowa Central Community College full time pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,650. Associate Degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College accumulate an average of $21,832 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Mercy College of Health Sciences landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 76 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Associate Degree recipients from Mercy College of Health Sciences accumulate an average of $32,883 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 92% were women.
In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
William Penn University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 35% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
View Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.