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 accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer counseling 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.

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 57.5 miles from Mason City BOC Score 68.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
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: 67

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA 107.6 miles from Mason City BOC Score 51.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,824
Avg net price $21,774/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA 107.6 miles from Mason City BOC Score 54.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
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: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Drake University

Des Moines, IA 109.4 miles from Mason City BOC Score 72.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $71,901
Avg net price $29,127/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Emmaus Bible College

Dubuque, IA 133.9 miles from Mason City BOC Score 74.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,631
Avg net price $13,186/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 134.8 miles from Mason City BOC Score 73.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,762
Avg net price $22,531/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 68

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Loras College

Dubuque, IA 135.2 miles from Mason City BOC Score 67.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,289
Avg net price $20,716/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 21

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Morningside University

Sioux City, IA 166.7 miles from Mason City BOC Score 46.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,494
Avg net price $31,320/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Counseling Wages Near Mason City

OccupationMedian 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

MetricValueSource
Population27,135Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$62,369Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+21.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Counseling-related employment in Cerro Gordo County166 workers, 117 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Mason City-Area Cities With Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

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

Accredited schools offering counseling programs near Mason City are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

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

Other Programs Available in Mason City

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

Data verified: July 23, 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.