Best Public Policy Schools Near Mason City, IA (2026)

Updated September 5, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Mason City, Iowa has 1 accredited school offering public policy programs, with tuition ranging from $9,936 to $22,278 per year for indexed 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 public policy-related role is Economists at a median $96,310 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Public Policy Schools to Mason City

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

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 57.7 miles from Mason City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • 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: 116

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Public Policy Wages Near Mason City

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Political Scientists N/A
Management Analysts $85,530
Economists $96,310
Social and Community Service Managers $65,940
Survey Researchers $83,170
Compliance Officers $75,620
General and Operations Managers $87,690
Financial and Investment Analysts $92,370

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)

Other Mason City-Area Cities With Public Policy Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited public policy schools are near Mason City, IA?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering public policy programs near Mason City. The closest is University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA (57.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Northern Iowa (57.7 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying public policy roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying public policy-related roles in Iowa are: Economists ($96,310), Financial and Investment Analysts ($92,370), General and Operations Managers ($87,690). 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 public policy 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 public policy?

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 Public Policy Programs

Other Programs Available in Mason City

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

Data verified: September 5, 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.

Back to Best Public Policy Schools in Iowa: Online Programs (2026)