North Iowa Area Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in Mason City, IA (2026)
Mason City, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering nursing 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 nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $273,070 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Mason City
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing 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.
Riverland Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Ellsworth Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Allen College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Northeast Iowa Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Mason City
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $78,630 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $62,630 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $273,070 |
| Nurse Midwife | $131,360 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,160 |
| Nursing Assistant | $39,350 |
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) |
| Nursing-related employment in Cerro Gordo County | 1,060 workers, 31 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Mason City-Area Cities With Nursing 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 nursing schools are near Mason City, IA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Mason City. The closest is North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, IA (3.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Northeast Iowa Community College (67.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles in Iowa?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in Iowa are: Nurse Anesthetist ($273,070), Nurse Midwife ($131,360), Nurse Practitioner ($130,160). 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 nursing 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 nursing?
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 Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Iowa
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Mason City
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Mason City:
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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.