10 Cheapest Online Master's Degrees in Iowa 2025

Many people choose to finish their higher education after earning a bachelor's degree, but plenty choose to go on to earn a graduate degree. Master's degrees usually take around two years and can help students reach their career goals and qualify for licensure in some industries. Online master's degrees are highly convenient for adult learners who can't take time out of their busy schedules to attend classes on campus.

While master's degrees can often be pricey, plenty of schools offer affordable online master's degree programs. Keep reading to discover affordable online master's programs in Iowa.

10 Most Affordable Online Master's Programs in Iowa

There are several cheap online colleges in Iowa. Below, we've featured schools in Iowa that offer cheap online master's degrees.

1. Buena Vista University

Buena Vista University is a private Christian university in Storm Lake, IA. It offers half a dozen online master's degrees in areas like counseling, educational administration, organizational leadership, and special education.

Online master's degrees at BVU start at $310 per credit hour for the Master of Education (MEd) degrees in curriculum and instruction and special education. All other master's degrees are $495 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $402.50
• Financial aid: BVU accepts aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Clarke University

At Clarke University, students can choose from two online graduate degrees. The first is a Master of Arts (MA) in Education, and the second is a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Clarke University is a private Catholic institution located in Dubuque, IA. It charges $325 per credit for the MA in education and $575 per credit for the MBA.

• Average cost per credit hour: $450
• Financial aid: Clarke University offers institutional financial aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Morningside University

Morningside University offers a dozen master's degrees through online learning. This private Christian school is located in Sioux City, IA.

Online degrees are available in areas like business administration, elementary education, nursing, and teacher leadership. Master's degrees here start at $348 per credit and go up to $660 per credit, depending on the major or area of study.

• Average cost per credit hour: $504
• Financial aid: Morningside University offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

4. Upper Iowa University

Six online master's degrees are available at Upper Iowa University. Areas of study include counseling, healthcare administration, psychology, and public administration.

UIU, located in Fayette, IA, is a private institution. Tuition varies by program, with MEd degrees costing $355 per credit and going up to $655 per credit for the online MBA.

• Average cost per credit hour: $493.75
• Financial aid: UIU accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations. It also offers institutional aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

5. Grand View University

Grand View University is a private Christian liberal arts school in Des Moines, IA. It offers online master's degrees in fields like analytics, athletic training, instructional design, and social work.

Tuition varies by program. The least expensive options are the MEd programs, which are $395 per credit, but the cost goes up to $615 for the Master of Science (MS) in analytics.

• Average cost per credit hour: $555
• Financial aid: Grand View accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

6. Dordt University

Students at Dordt University will find several online master's degrees. Areas of study include business administration, public administration, social work, and special education.

Dordt University is a private Christian school located in Sioux Center, IA. Tuition ranges from $415 per credit for education degrees to $800 per credit for the Master of Social Work (MSW).

• Average cost per credit hour: $600
• Financial aid: Dordt University offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

7. University of Dubuque

A Master of Business Administration is available online through the University of Dubuque. The private Christian school is located in Dubuque, IA.

The online MBA offers several specializations, including business analytics, finance, marketing, and organizational leadership. The tuition rate for online students is $416 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $416
• Financial aid: The University of Dubuque offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

8. Briar Cliff University

A handful of online master's degrees are available through Briar Cliff University. Areas of study include healthcare administration, human resource management, nurse practitioner, and sport management.

Briar Cliff, located in Sioux City, IA, is a private Catholic school. Tuition is program-dependent and ranges from $455 to $585 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $520
• Financial aid: Briar Cliff University accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations. It also offers institutional aid options.
• Accreditation: HLC

9. Graceland University

Graceland University is a private Mormon institution in Lamoni, IA. It offers online master's degrees in fields like business administration, data science, nursing, nutrition, and social sciences.

The tuition rate at Graceland depends on the graduate program you're in. Seminary programs are just $325 per credit. Other online degrees range from $470 to $730 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $600
• Financial aid: Graceland University accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation: HLC

10. William Penn University

Through William Penn University, students can choose between two online master's degrees: a master's in organizational leadership and a master's in sport management.

William Penn University, a private Quaker school, is located in Oskaloosa, IA. It charges $500 per credit hour for both online education programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $500
• Financial aid: William Penn University offers institutional financial aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.
• Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

To choose the affordable online master's programs featured above, we focused on:

• Location: For this list, we focused specifically on schools located in Iowa.
• Accreditation: We only chose public and non-profit schools with regional accreditation.
• Affordability: Once we determined which accredited Iowa schools offer online master's degrees, we looked at which have the lowest tuition rates.
• Program reputation: All schools on this list are known for offering quality higher education programs.

FAQs About Cheap Online Master's Programs in Iowa

Finding the right graduate program can be tough. Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about cheap online master's degrees in Iowa to help you out.

How Much Does an Online Master's Degree Cost in Iowa?

The cost of an online master's degree depends on multiple factors, including the school you choose and what major you pick. All schools listed above offer master's degrees for $500 or less per credit.

In most states, the cheapest master's degrees come from public schools, but that's not the case in Iowa. However, with the right financial aid, you may be able to lower your costs significantly. Public schools in Iowa offering online master's programs include:

• University of Northern Iowa, where tuition ranges from $569 to $746 per credit
• Iowa State University, which charges between $639 and $818 per credit
• University of Iowa, where tuition starts at $648 per credit for online master's degrees

In many cases, Master of Education degrees are the least expensive, while MBAs and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), some of the highest-paying master's degrees, cost the most. However, this can vary between schools.

Other things that can influence your costs include whether you have transfer credits. Some schools allow students to begin taking graduate-level coursework while still in their bachelor's programs. And, of course, the amount you receive in financial aid also significantly impacts your costs.

How Can I Get Free Tuition for My Master's Degree?

One of the best ways to get free tuition for a master's program is to pursue financial aid. Start by looking at affordable online colleges that accept FAFSA.

FAFSA determines what state and federal financial aid programs you qualify for, and many schools require you to fill out the FAFSA to qualify for their scholarship. Several colleges and universities offer financial aid options, like scholarships and assistantships, to help students pay for their online courses.

You can also check private organizations for scholarships. Additionally, if you have a job, your employer may offer student aid as well.

What Is the Easiest Master's Degree To Get Online?

The easiest master's degree to get online depends on your skill set and prior educational experience. However, many students find MBA degrees to be particularly easy, as their work isn't as challenging and doesn't require an in-person component like degrees in education or nursing.

Is an Online Master's Degree Worth the Money?

Whether or not an online master's degree is worth the money depends on several things, like how much you spent on your degree and what field you plan to pursue. For example, MBAs and MSNs often have a very high return on investment (ROI), while a Master of Social Work often has a much lower ROI.

Earn Your Graduate Degree Online

Take the next step toward reaching your career goals by exploring the graduate degrees featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to request information on admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.