Best Online Liberal Arts Programs in Fort Dodge, IA (2026)

Fort Dodge, Iowa has 3 accredited schools offering liberal arts programs, with tuition ranging from $10,497 to $27,683 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 liberal arts-related role is Management Analyst at a median $85,530 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Liberal Arts Schools to Fort Dodge

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer liberal arts programs near Fort Dodge, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 42.9 miles from Fort Dodge BOC Score 76.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,386
Avg net price $18,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA 68.0 miles from Fort Dodge 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

Drake University

Des Moines, IA 68.3 miles from Fort Dodge 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

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 87.2 miles from Fort Dodge 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

#5

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA 101.2 miles from Fort Dodge BOC Score 53.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
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: 27

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, IA 114.6 miles from Fort Dodge BOC Score 43.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,475
Avg net price $23,907/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 28

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 148.1 miles from Fort Dodge 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

#8

Loras College

Dubuque, IA 177.9 miles from Fort Dodge 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

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


Liberal Arts Wages Near Fort Dodge

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Public Relations Specialist$62,970
Management Analyst$85,530
Technical Writer$66,520
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist$43,540
Editor$57,200
Training and Development Specialist$66,110
Human Resources Specialist$66,710

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

MetricValueSource
Population24,788Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$61,769Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+20.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Fort Dodge-Area Cities With Liberal Arts Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited liberal arts schools are near Fort Dodge, IA?

Accredited schools offering liberal arts programs near Fort Dodge 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 liberal arts roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying liberal arts-related roles in Iowa are: Management Analyst ($85,530), Human Resources Specialist ($66,710), Technical Writer ($66,520). 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 liberal arts 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 liberal arts?

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 Liberal Arts Programs

Other Programs Available in Fort Dodge

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

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.