Best Online Healthcare Programs in Des Moines, IA (2026)
Des Moines, Iowa has a population of about 212,464. The city’s median household income is $63,966 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 23 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Des Moines, with tuition ranging from $17,328 to $30,844 per year for indexed programs. In the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Medical and Health Services Manager at a median $103,370 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Healthcare Schools to Des Moines
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 23 schools in our directory that offer healthcare programs near Des Moines. Distances are calculated from Des Moines city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines, IA | 1.7 mi | $17,328 - $30,844 | – |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology | Des Moines, IA | 1.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Drake University | Des Moines, IA | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Grand View University | Des Moines, IA | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | 6.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School | Urbandale, IA | 7.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| La James International College-Johnston | Johnston, IA | 9.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | 9.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center | West Des Moines, IA | 10.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Simpson College | Indianola, IA | 14.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa healthcare page.
Healthcare Wages Near Des Moines
Des Moines is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area (BLS area code 19780). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $103,370 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $112,726 |
| Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar | $71,980 | IA statewide | $78,495 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $52,370 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $57,110 |
| Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant | $40,450 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $44,111 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $64,490 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $70,327 |
| Epidemiologist | $78,840 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $85,976 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 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.
Des Moines at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 212,464 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $63,966 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.7 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Healthcare-related employment in Polk County | 39,472 workers, 2,057 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Des Moines-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs
- West Des Moines, IA – 8.9 mi away (64,560 pop)
- Johnston, IA – 9.6 mi away (21,114 pop)
- Urbandale, IA – 10.0 mi away (43,018 pop)
- Ankeny, IA – 10.7 mi away (58,627 pop)
- Ames, IA – 31.4 mi away (67,841 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited healthcare schools are near Des Moines, IA?
Our directory has 23 accredited schools offering healthcare programs near Des Moines. The closest is Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA (1.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Simpson College (14.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Des Moines?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Des Moines are: Medical and Health Services Manager ($103,370), Epidemiologist ($78,840), Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar ($71,980). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in West Des Moines instead of Des Moines?
West Des Moines, IA is 8.9 miles from Des Moines and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Des Moines an affordable place to study healthcare?
Des Moines’s median household income of $63,966 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Des Moines 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.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.