Colleges Near West Des Moines, Iowa
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving West Des Moines? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 20 miles of West Des Moines, Iowa.
There are at least 8 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 0 public colleges and universities, and 1 community college offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving West Des Moines, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
West Des Moines, Iowa Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near West Des Moines, Iowa have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 5,337 doctorates at colleges and universities near West Des Moines. That was a decrease of 2% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2023
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near West Des Moines, Iowa
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near West Des Moines, Iowa, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 11,773 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 5,488 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 3,277 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the West Des Moines, Iowa area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2023, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Simpson College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Simpson College. In 2023, 345 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 16 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,115
Completions By Degree
361
Est. Online Degree Availability
19%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Drake University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Drake University. In 2023, 831 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 19 associate degrees, 426 master's degrees, and 257 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,794
Completions By Degree
1,533
Est. Online Degree Availability
20%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Grand View University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Grand View University. In 2023, 440 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 84 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,525
Completions By Degree
524
Est. Online Degree Availability
56%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Mercy College of Health Sciences is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and most programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Mercy College of Health Sciences. In 2023, 323 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 47 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
909
Completions By Degree
370
Est. Online Degree Availability
87%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. In 2023, 35 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 17 associate degrees, 12 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
313
Completions By Degree
64
Est. Online Degree Availability
48%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center. In 2023, 304 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 161 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
465
Est. Online Degree Availability
17%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near West Des Moines, Iowa
There is 1 community college near West Des Moines, Iowa where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 10,110 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near West Des Moines, and about 2,020 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Des Moines Area Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
10,110
Completions By Degree
2,020
Est. Online Degree Availability
12%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near West Des Moines, Iowa
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near West Des Moines, Iowa? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at West Des Moines-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $30,179. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near West Des Moines is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving West Des Moines, Iowa
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in West Des Moines, Iowa is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving West Des Moines, Iowa here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Drake University
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
- Grand View University
- Mercy College of Health Sciences
- Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
- Simpson College
- Des Moines Area Community College
West Des Moines, Iowa Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in West Des Moines? What's the West Des Moines, Iowa job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2024, there were about 429,058 jobs in the West Des Moines, Iowa area. From 2023-2024, job growth in West Des Moines was above the national average, at 1.4%. There were 52,938 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in West Des Moines do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $22.21.