Indian Hills Community College
Published tuition$4,872 - $14,774
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in Ottumwa, IA (2026)
Ottumwa, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs, with tuition ranging from $4,872 to $32,927 per year for indexed 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 nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $273,070 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Ottumwa
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Ottumwa. Distances are calculated from Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Kirksville Area Technical Center
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
University of Iowa
Published tuition$10,964 - $32,927
Online programsYes
Southeastern Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Marshalltown Community College
Published tuition$5,304 - $13,993
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Ottumwa
| 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.
Ottumwa at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,352 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $56,994 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Nursing-related employment in Wapello County | 516 workers, 25 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Ottumwa-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Coralville, IA – 63.4 mi away (20,397 pop)
- Iowa City, IA – 63.7 mi away (116,891 pop)
- Burlington, IA – 69.1 mi away (29,124 pop)
- Des Moines, IA – 72.7 mi away (476,689 pop)
- Marshalltown, IA – 74.5 mi away (26,640 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Ottumwa, IA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Ottumwa. The closest is Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, IA (2.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Marshalltown Community College (72.5 miles). 4 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 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 nursing 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 nursing?
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 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
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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.