Best Online Technology Programs in Johnston, IA (2026)

Johnston, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering technology programs, with tuition ranging from $4,872 to $27,683 per year for indexed programs. Johnston has a population of about 24,196. Median household income is $103,430 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 57.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, the top-earning technology-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $164,840 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Technology Schools to Johnston

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

#1

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 23.9 miles from Johnston 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

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA 61.1 miles from Johnston BOC Score 33.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,936
Avg net price $22,601/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 57%
  • Programs offered: 26

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 86.1 miles from Johnston 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

#4

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA 101.0 miles from Johnston BOC Score 54.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,156
Avg net price $18,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA 108.7 miles from Johnston BOC Score 36.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 24%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,165
Avg net price $19,693/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,978
Out‑of‑state$25,978
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 48%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA 126.3 miles from Johnston BOC Score 42.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,766
Avg net price $20,942/yr
Tuition
In‑state$19,475
Out‑of‑state$19,475
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 36

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 162.3 miles from Johnston BOC Score 62.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Emmaus Bible College

Dubuque, IA 164.5 miles from Johnston BOC Score 74.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,631
Avg net price $13,186/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Technology Wages Near Johnston

Johnston is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area (BLS area code 19780). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$126,460Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$137,906
Information Security Analyst$123,740Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$134,940
Computer Network Architect$108,280Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$118,081
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$89,800Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$97,928
Computer Network Support Specialist$62,050Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$67,666
Computer User Support Specialist$59,450Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$64,831
Web Developer$61,960Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$67,568
Computer and Information Systems Manager$164,840Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$179,760

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.


Johnston at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,196Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$103,430Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+57.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.7 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Technology-related employment in Polk County9,088 workers, 1,650 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Johnston-Area Cities With Technology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited technology schools are near Johnston, IA?

Accredited schools offering technology programs near Johnston 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 technology roles near Johnston?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying technology-related roles near Johnston are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($164,840), Software Developer ($126,460), Information Security Analyst ($123,740). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Urbandale instead of Johnston?

Urbandale, IA is 4.6 miles from Johnston and has its own set of local technology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Johnston an affordable place to study technology?

Johnston’s median household income of $103,430 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Johnston 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 Technology Programs

Other Programs Available in Johnston

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

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.