2023 Best Online Colleges in Iowa

Waldorf University is a private, for-profit, Lutheran university featuring a wide choice of online bachelor's degree programs. The university's most well-attended programs include its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Occupational Safety, and Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Administration degrees. Waldorf accepts 61% of bachelor's candidates, and 50% of them complete their degrees.

Waldorf hosts online courses on the Blackboard learning management system (LMS). More than one-third of students are enrolled on a part-time basis, and 69% of students are online-only learners. Most Waldorf undergraduates are required to take a capstone class called Life, Meaning, and Vocation that asks them to examine their own values.

Iowa State University, which is a public institution, offers three online bachelor's degrees, 27 online master's degrees, and four online doctorates. Master's degrees are available in a diverse range of subjects, including business administration, educational administration, gerontology, and systems engineering. The school has a 95% acceptance rate and a 90% graduation rate.

Distance learners complete their online courses and engage in class discussions with classmates and instructors through the Canvas learning platform. Of all Iowa State enrollees, 74% study full time.

The University of Northern Iowa is a public institution that offers a range of online bachelor's and master's degrees. Among the school's most popular programs are the Bachelor's in Business Administration, the Master's in English Literature, and the Master's in Educational Administration. This university accepts 95% of applicants and graduates 64% of students.

Distance education students use the Blackboard learning platform to complete their coursework. More than 90% of enrollees study full time.

The University of Iowa (UI), the state's largest public university, offers a few online bachelor's degrees. Students can choose from degrees that include a Bachelor of Liberal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management. UI also has two online degree-completion programs: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for current registered nurses and a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Sciences for current radiology technicians. The university accepts 84% of applicants to bachelor's programs, and 72% of them graduate with degrees.

Online students at UI sign into Canvas to watch lectures, talk to classmates in discussion forums, and complete assignments. UI's student body consists of 92% full-time students and only 4% online-only learners.

A private, non-profit school, Morningside College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school offers a small selection of online degrees, including bachelor's degree completion programs in nursing or elementary education. Students can also earn online master's degrees in teaching or nursing. Morningside accepts 71% of applicants, and 56% of students earn their degree.

Moodle is the school's learning management system, giving online learners access to course materials and group learning activities. Of all enrollees, 93% attend school full time.

Upper Iowa University (UIU) is a private nonprofit school with a range of online bachelor's degrees on offer. Popular programs include bachelor's degrees in business administration, human services, psychology, and nursing (an RN-to-BSN track). Online courses last eight weeks as opposed to 13-15 for a semester elsewhere. UIU has a 65% bachelor's degree acceptance rate and a 50% bachelor's graduation rate.

The university uses the Brightspace LMS to deliver online courses. The student body is almost evenly split between full-time and part-time enrollees, but distance education is clearly more common at UIU: 60% of students take exclusively online classes, and only 27% take purely on-campus offerings.

Buena Vista University (BVU) is a private school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church that offers more than a dozen online bachelor's degrees. Programs with the highest enrollment include bachelor's degrees in general distributive studies, psychology, business, and accounting. The university accepts 56% of candidates for bachelor's degrees, and it eventually grants degrees to 59% of undergraduates.

BVU uses the Canvas learning platform to deliver online courses. Forty-four percent of undergraduates at BVU take online courses exclusively, and another 5% take a mix of online and on-campus learning. About 14% of enrollees are part-time learners.

Northwestern College is a private, non-profit college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. The school offers a limited number of online degrees, including a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, an RN-to-BSN bridge program, and master's degrees in education, school counseling, and clinical mental health counseling. The school has an 87% acceptance rate, and 63% of students earn their degree.

At Northwestern College, online students access course materials, complete assignments, and interact with peers and instructors through the Canvas system. More than 90% of Northwestern College students attend school full time.

Graceland University is a private, non-profit institution affiliated with the Community of Christ. The school offers 14 online bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs, and is especially noted for its online nursing programs. The school has a 74% acceptance rate and a 48% graduation rate.

At Graceland, online learners access course materials, complete homework assignments, and engage in class discussions through the Brightspace platform. Most Graceland students — 92% — attend school full time.

Briar Cliff University is a private, non-profit college affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. Students can opt to earn one of 10 undergraduate degrees or six graduate degrees entirely online. The school has an open enrollment policy, meaning it accepts all applicants, and 43% of students earn their degree.

At Briar Cliff, online students access course materials, complete assignments, and interact with peers and instructors through the Brightspace system. Three-quarters of Briar Cliff students attend school full time.

Maharishi International University (MIU) is a small, private, and nonprofit establishment. There are under 600 undergraduate students currently enrolled at the school. Offering a total of 14 online bachelor's programs, 13 online master's programs, and 2 online PhDs, MIU is an institution deeply rooted in the wellness domain. They brand their unique approach as "consciousness-based education," enabling students to undertake a journey of self-exploration while earning a degree in their chosen field. The university also fosters transcendental meditation, pioneering sustainability measures, and encourages a wholesome lifestyle, all in an effort to shape versatile and well-rounded graduates.