University of Northern Iowa
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in Mason City, IA (2026)
Mason City, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $7,196 to $17,834 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 counseling-related role is Marriage and Family Therapist at a median $67,180 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to Mason City
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Mason City. Distances are calculated from Mason City 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 Mason City. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Rochester Community and Technical College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Bethany Lutheran College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Iowa Lakes Community College
Published tuition$7,196 - $17,834
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near Mason City
| 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.
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) |
| Counseling-related employment in Cerro Gordo County | 166 workers, 117 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Mason City-Area Cities With Counseling Programs
- Austin, MN – 37.9 mi away (25,105 pop)
- Cedar Falls, IA – 57.6 mi away (41,390 pop)
- Waterloo, IA – 62.5 mi away (112,635 pop)
- Owatonna, MN – 65.2 mi away (25,567 pop)
- Fort Dodge, IA – 66.3 mi away (24,359 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near Mason City, IA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Mason City. The closest is University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA (57.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Iowa Lakes Community College (84.1 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 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 counseling 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 counseling?
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 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.