Best Online Education Programs in Ottumwa, IA (2026)

Ottumwa, Iowa has 3 accredited schools offering education programs. Ottumwa has a population of about 25,352. Median household income is $56,994 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $104,260 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Education Schools to Ottumwa

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer education programs near Ottumwa, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa. 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

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA 23.3 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
33.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,936
Avg net price $22,601/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 57%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA 78.6 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
59.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,787
Avg net price $20,168/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 101.9 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
62.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 18

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 103.3 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • 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: 20

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA 129.6 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • 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: 8

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA 182.2 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
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: 11

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA 231.4 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
53.4 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 80%
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,802
Avg net price $25,907/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,710
Out‑of‑state$36,710
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA 239.2 miles from Ottumwa
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
62.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,559
Avg net price $25,807/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 13

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Education Wages Near Ottumwa

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Secondary School Teacher$61,200
Elementary School Teacher$60,580
Middle School Teacher$60,450
Education Teacher, Postsecondary$62,090
Education Administrator, K-12$104,260
Education Administrator, Postsecondary$89,320
Tutor$36,790
Educational and Career Counselor$56,540

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.


Ottumwa at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population25,352Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,994Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+20.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Education-related employment in Wapello County164 workers, 10 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Ottumwa-Area Cities With Education Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited education schools are near Ottumwa, IA?

Accredited schools offering education programs near Ottumwa 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 education roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying education-related roles in Iowa are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($104,260), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($89,320), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($62,090). Wages for Ottumwa workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Coralville instead of Ottumwa?

Coralville, IA is 63.4 miles from Ottumwa and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Ottumwa an affordable place to study education?

Ottumwa’s median household income of $56,994 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ottumwa 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 Education Programs

Other Programs Available in Ottumwa

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

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.