2023 Best Schools in Iowa
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Schools in Iowa ranking. Our analysis looked at 36 schools in Iowa to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Schools in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Northwestern College to be the best school for students in Iowa. Located in Orange City, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 594 diplomas to qualifed students in .
Once they receive their degree, NWC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,845 during the early year of their career.
Full Northwestern College Report
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grinnell College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Schools in Iowa list. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Grinnell, Iowa that handed out 528 degrees in .
During the early years of their career, Grinnell graduates make an average of $38,888 annually.
Read full report on Grinnell College
Request Information
The excellent programs at Drake University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Iowa. Drake is located in Des Moines, Iowa and has a small student population. In , this school awarded 1,539 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,366 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Drake graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,228 during the early year of their career.
Request Information
Out of the 36 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 8,096 degrees in .
On average, students take out $33,439 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Iowa State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,900 during the early years of their career.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 2,649 degrees in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,526 in student loans. During the early years of their career, UNI graduates make an average of $46,054 annually.
Full University of Northern Iowa Report
Request Information
Simpson College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianola, Iowa that handed out 365 degrees in .
Degree recipients from Simpson College accumulate an average of $28,330 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Simpson College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,888 during the early years of their career.
Request Information
University of Iowa came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 9,815 degrees in .
Degree recipients from Iowa accumulate an average of $39,381 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Iowa graduates make an average of $57,375 annually.
Read full report on University of Iowa
Request Information
Wartburg College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Waverly, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 417 degrees in .
Degree recipients from Wartburg accumulate an average of $27,378 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Wartburg graduates make an average of $46,918 annually.
Request Information
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is located in Sheldon, Iowa and has a small student population. In , this school awarded 397 degrees to qualified students.
During the early years of their career, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates make an average of $54,373 annually.
Full Northwest Iowa Community College Report
Request Information
Luther College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and has a small student population. In , this school awarded 442 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Luther accumulate an average of $40,343 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Luther graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,426 during the early year of their career.
Request Information
Loras College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 440 diplomas to qualifed students in .
After graduating from Loras, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,117 during the early years of their career.
Request Information
With a ranking of #12, Cornell College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working. Located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 231 degrees in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $42,580 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Cornell College graduates make an average of $35,545 annually.
Request Information
Dordt University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 512 degrees in .
Once they receive their degree, Dordt graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,926 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Dordt University
Request Information
Saint Ambrose University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in Davenport, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 919 diplomas to qualifed students in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $44,835 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, St. Ambrose University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,252 during the early year of their career.
Request Information
Upper Iowa University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Fayette, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,035 degrees in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,234 in student loans.After graduating from UIU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,441 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Upper Iowa University
Request Information
Buena Vista University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking. BVU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Storm Lake, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 689 degrees in .
On average, students take out $14,811 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from BVU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,780 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Buena Vista University
Request Information
Morningside College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #17 on the list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 600 degrees in .
Degree recipients from Morningside accumulate an average of $26,358 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Morningside graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,988 during the early year of their career.
Request Information
Waldorf University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Waldorf is located in Forest City, Iowa and has a small student population. In , this school awarded 974 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $15,539 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Waldorf graduates make an average of $63,346 annually.
Read full report on Waldorf University
Request Information
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, the large public school handed out 4,718 degrees in .
On average, students take out $16,938 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, DMACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,121 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Des Moines Area Community College
Request Information
Coe College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 341 degrees in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,864 in student loans.After graduating from Coe, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,511 during the early years of their career.
Request Information
Grand View University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 530 degrees in .
On average, students take out $22,612 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Grand View University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,180 during the early year of their career.
Full Grand View University Report
Request Information
Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #22 on the list. NICC is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 634 degrees in .
Degree recipients from NICC accumulate an average of $10,655 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, NICC graduates make an average of $39,833 annually.
Read full report on Northeast Iowa Community College
Request Information
Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 415 degrees in .
On average, students take out $25,556 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Graceland Lamoni graduates make an average of $63,443 annually.
Read full report on Graceland University - Lamoni
Request Information
Hawkeye Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, the small public school awarded 898 diplomas to qualifed students in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,663 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Hawkeye Community College graduates make an average of $41,902 annually.
Full Hawkeye Community College Report
Request Information
Mount Mercy University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 502 degrees in .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,404 in student loans.After graduating from Mount Mercy, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,431 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Mount Mercy University
Request InformationBest Schools in the Plains States Region
View Best Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.