Best Biology Schools Near Mason City, IA (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Mason City, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs, with tuition ranging from $9,936 to $39,675 per year for indexed programs. Mason City has a population of about 27,135. Median household income is $62,369 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning biology-related role is Soil and Plant Scientist at a median $96,310 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Biology Schools to Mason City

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer biology programs near Mason City, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Mason City city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Mason City. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA 23.6 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
36.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,165
Avg net price $19,693/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,978
Out‑of‑state$25,978
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 48%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Wartburg College

Waverly, IA 46.5 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,201
Avg net price $32,908/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 57.7 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
68.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 93%
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,177
Avg net price $15,901/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,936
Out‑of‑state$21,712
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 116

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Luther College

Decorah, IA 71.2 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
56.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,850
Avg net price $23,097/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA 73.9 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
42.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,766
Avg net price $20,942/yr
Tuition
In‑state$19,475
Out‑of‑state$19,475
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 80.8 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
76.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,386
Avg net price $18,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 169

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA 99.8 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
72.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 88%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,830
Avg net price $17,648/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA 107.5 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,156
Avg net price $18,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa biology page.

Biology Wages Near Mason City

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Medical Scientist $83,850
Biological Technician $48,050
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist $83,000
Soil and Plant Scientist $96,310

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Mason City at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 27,135 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $62,369 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Mason City-Area Cities With Biology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited biology schools are near Mason City, IA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering biology programs near Mason City. The closest is Waldorf University in Forest City, IA (23.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Northern Iowa (57.7 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying biology roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying biology-related roles in Iowa are: Soil and Plant Scientist ($96,310), Medical Scientist ($83,850), Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist ($83,000). Wages for Mason City workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Austin instead of Mason City?

Austin, MN is 37.9 miles from Mason City and has its own set of local biology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Mason City an affordable place to study biology?

Mason City’s median household income of $62,369 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Mason City while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Biology Programs

Other Programs Available in Mason City

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Mason City:

Data verified: September 6, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Biology Schools in Iowa: Online Programs (2026)