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Main Street - Downtown Council Bluffs, Iowa (44441440954)Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colleges in and near Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs is home to Iowa Western Community College

Iowa Western Community College (3,841 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Council Bluffs’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa (6%).

Iowa Western Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Council Bluffs. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
40,957 students on campus
Nearest college
3.8 mi
Iowa Western
Residents in college
6%
About the same as IA (6%)
Nearest community college
3.8 mi
Iowa Western · $6,930 tuition
Nearest public university
126.3 mi
Iowa State · $10,787 in-state
Median household income
$65K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Council Bluffs

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in Council BluffsIowa Western Community College has 3,841 students on campus in Council Bluffs, 40% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Iowa StateLiving in Iowa, Iowa State University charges $10,787 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $28,881. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Iowa (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Council Bluffs

Five private colleges within 10.3 miles, two public colleges within 8.2 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Iowa State University, is 126.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMetropolitan Community College AreaUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaCreighton UniversityCouncil Bluffs
University or collegeCommunity college
Iowa Western Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,841 on campus · In Council Bluffs$15knet price40%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $6,930 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Creighton UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,982 on campus · 5.3 mi · Omaha, NE80%admitted$32knet price83%graduate$74kearningsUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity or college · Public · 3,227 on campus · 6.4 mi · Omaha, NE$77kearningsClarkson CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 354 on campus · 6.5 mi · Omaha, NE · mostly online78%admitted$19knet price47%graduate$65kearnings67% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Bellevue UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 726 on campus · 6.8 mi · Bellevue, NE · mostly online$18knet price33%graduate$61kearnings95% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Metropolitan Community College AreaCommunity college · Public · 12,911 on campus · 7.5 mi · Omaha, NE$5knet price29%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $3,375 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Nebraska at OmahaUniversity or college · Public · 11,554 on campus · 8.2 mi · Omaha, NE87%admitted$13knet price47%graduate$54kearningsCollege of Saint MaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 644 on campus · 8.7 mi · Omaha, NE45%admitted$17knet price60%graduate$54kearningsNebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied HealthUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 718 on campus · 10.3 mi · Omaha, NE73%admitted$22knet price60%graduate$65kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Council Bluffs’ median household income ($64,578) falls.

Metropolitan Community College Area7.5 mi · Omaha, NE · sticker $11,667 · tuition $3,375$5,150a year
College of Saint Mary8.7 mi · Omaha, NE · sticker $35,971$9,320a year
University of Nebraska at Omaha8.2 mi · Omaha, NE · sticker $21,120$12,324a year
Iowa Western Community CollegeIn Council Bluffs · sticker $18,978 · tuition $6,930$14,706a year
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health10.3 mi · Omaha, NE · sticker $32,835$14,892a year
Iowa State University126.3 mi · Ames · sticker $24,018$15,463a year
Bellevue University6.8 mi · Bellevue, NE · mostly online · sticker $23,531$16,324a year
Clarkson College6.5 mi · Omaha, NE · mostly online · sticker $24,670$17,312a year
Creighton University5.3 mi · Omaha, NE · sticker $63,423$23,405a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Iowa WesternCreighton UniversityBellevue UniversityMetropolitan Community College AreaUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaIowa State
Iowa State University75% graduate$63k earnings$23k typical debt
Metropolitan Community College Area29% graduate$39k earnings$8k typical debt
University of Nebraska at Omaha47% graduate$54k earnings$19k typical debt
Creighton University83% graduate$74k earnings$25k typical debt
Iowa Western Community College40% graduate$43k earnings$11k typical debt
Bellevue University33% graduate$61k earnings$20k typical debt
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health60% graduate$65k earnings$23k typical debt
College of Saint Mary60% graduate$54k earnings$24k typical debt
Clarkson College47% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Council Bluffs

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Iowa Western Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 23%Liberal arts 19%Business 12%Mechanics & repair 10%Computer science 7%Precision production 6%Everything else 22%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities321 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing99 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians24 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions17 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians15 graduates a year
$35k4 yrs out
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians14 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Council Bluffs

Is Council Bluffs a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Council Bluffs residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Iowa (6). The largest campus in the city, Iowa Western Community College, has 3,841 students on campus.

What colleges are in Council Bluffs?

Iowa Western Community College is inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Council Bluffs, and what does it cost?

Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, 3.8 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,930 a year for Iowa residents; the federal net price, $14,629, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Iowa State University cost if we live in Iowa?

Tuition and fees are $10,787 a year in-state and $28,881 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,582 (under $30,000 income) to $22,496 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Council Bluffs. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →