Buena Vista University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in Fort Dodge, IA (2026)
Fort Dodge, Iowa has 4 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $7,196 to $17,834 per year for indexed programs. Fort Dodge has a population of about 24,788. Median household income is $61,769 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning counseling-related role is Marriage and Family Therapist at a median $67,180 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to Fort Dodge
The 4 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 4 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Fort Dodge. Distances are calculated from Fort Dodge city center.
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 Fort Dodge. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Grand View University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Iowa Lakes Community College
Published tuition$7,196 - $17,834
Online programsYes
University of Northern Iowa
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near Fort Dodge
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $60,880 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $56,540 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $67,180 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $39,630 |
| Counselor, All Other | $61,080 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $65,940 |
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.
Fort Dodge at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,788 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $61,769 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Counseling-related employment in Webster County | 120 workers, 82 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Fort Dodge-Area Cities With Counseling Programs
- Ames, IA – 43.6 mi away (67,841 pop)
- Ankeny, IA – 61.5 mi away (58,627 pop)
- Johnston, IA – 61.6 mi away (21,114 pop)
- Urbandale, IA – 63.5 mi away (43,018 pop)
- Mason City, IA – 66.3 mi away (26,487 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near Fort Dodge, IA?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Fort Dodge. The closest is Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA (53.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Northern Iowa (87.2 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying counseling roles in Iowa?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in Iowa are: Marriage and Family Therapist ($67,180), Social and Community Service Manager ($65,940), Counselor, All Other ($61,080). Wages for Fort Dodge workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Ames instead of Fort Dodge?
Ames, IA is 43.6 miles from Fort Dodge and has its own set of local counseling programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Fort Dodge an affordable place to study counseling?
Fort Dodge’s median household income of $61,769 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Dodge 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 Counseling Programs
- Counseling accreditation: what to look for
- Counseling concentrations and specializations
- Is a Counseling degree worth it?
- Main Counseling degree guide
- Online Counseling programs in Iowa
- Counseling programs by state
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Data verified: June 11, 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.