Mason City, Iowa Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Mason City, Iowa: median public in-state tuition $6,653 (+20.7% vs national median) median graduate debt $8,215 (-38.1% vs U.S.) 1,376 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,376 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $6,653 (+20.7% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $7,266 (-27.1% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $8,215 (-38.1% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Mason City serve students across Iowa with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,376 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $6,653. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Mason City, Iowa and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Mason City vs Iowa & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City, Iowa | $6,653 | $7,266 | $8,215 | N/A | 1,376 |
| Iowa (state median) | $6,525 | $11,272 | $14,745 | 63.0% | 134,174 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Mason City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City, Iowa | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Iowa (state median) | $55,286 | 94.0% | 75.8% | 3.7% | — | 82.3% | 0.44 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Iowa (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City, Iowa | $6,653 | $7,266 | $8,215 | N/A | 1,376 | N/A | N/A |
| Ames | $10,787 | $19,561 | $14,348 | 75.3% | 25,543 | $63,386 | 94.9% |
| Iowa City | $11,283 | $21,734 | $14,164 | 74.6% | 22,377 | $64,762 | 93.9% |
| Ankeny | $13,030 | $13,726 | $11,986 | 67.5% | 10,851 | $40,650 | 88.3% |
| Cedar Rapids | $40,878 | $17,643 | $17,850 | 61.8% | 10,012 | $58,956 | 94.9% |
| Cedar Falls | $9,936 | $15,901 | $16,096 | 67.9% | 7,674 | $55,177 | 95.2% |
| Davenport | $15,600 | $19,034 | $9,500 | 70.8% | 5,824 | $59,531 | 94.1% |
| Des Moines | $34,762 | $24,349 | $18,622 | 65.5% | 4,986 | $62,234 | 92.4% |
| Sioux City | $30,566 | $19,820 | $15,000 | 50.1% | 4,668 | $54,984 | 95.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
In-state tuition: Mason City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Mason City, Iowa median in-state tuition is $6,653, +20.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Mason City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Mason City, Iowa is $8,215 (-38.1% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Mason City, Iowa median public in-state tuition is $6,653, about +20.7% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +6.9%.
Median graduate debt is $8,215 (-38.1% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Mason City?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Mason City, Iowa with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Mason City?
Median in-state tuition in Mason City is $6,653 and median net price is $7,266. For Iowa overall, medians are $6,525 and $11,272; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Mason City?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Mason City is N/A vs $55,286 for Iowa and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Mason City colleges?
Median completer debt in Mason City is $8,215 vs $14,745 for Iowa and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Mason City?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Mason City, Iowa, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Iowa college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON