Best Space Studies Schools Near Sioux City, IA (2026)

Sioux City, Iowa is home to about 85,651 residents. Median household income is $65,473 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning space studies-related role is Physicists at a median $178,110 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Space Studies Schools to Sioux City

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

Ranked by BOC Score โ€” U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 143.9 miles from Sioux City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
76.9 BOC Score
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: 169

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Drake University

Des Moines, IA 153.5 miles from Sioux City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
72.1 BOC Score
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: 80

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 255.5 miles from Sioux City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
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: 199

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Space Studies Wages Near Sioux City

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide)
Astronomers N/A
Physicists $178,110
Aerospace Engineers N/A
Natural Sciences Managers $109,760
Atmospheric and Space Scientists $76,850
Engineers, All Other $103,090
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary $97,660
Physical Scientists, All Other $80,810

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.


Sioux City at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 85,651 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $65,473 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.7% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100) 86.5 (below U.S. average) BEA RPP 2024

Other Sioux City-Area Cities With Space Studies Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying space studies roles in Iowa?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying space studies-related roles in Iowa are: Physicists ($178,110), Natural Sciences Managers ($109,760), Engineers, All Other ($103,090). Wages for Sioux City workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Norfolk instead of Sioux City?

Norfolk, NE is 61.6 miles from Sioux City and has its own set of local space studies programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Sioux City an affordable place to study space studies?

Sioux City’s median household income of $65,473 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sioux 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 Space Studies Programs

Other Programs Available in Sioux City

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

Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.