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.
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Top Schools in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Northwestern College the best school in Iowa for students working on their degree.
After graduating from NWC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,021 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 36 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the # 2 spot on the list.
During the early years of their career, Grinnell graduates make an average of $34,615 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Drake University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,572 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $432.After graduating from Drake, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,927 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Iowa State University is a great place for students.
On average, students take out $23,598 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $257.After graduating from Iowa State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,142 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Iowa.
On average, students take out $22,939 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $172, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,810 during the early years of their career.
Simpson College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #6 on the list.
Degree recipients from Simpson College accumulate an average of $26,958 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 $41,402 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #7, University of Iowa did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,563 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $379. During the early years of their career, Iowa graduates make an average of $50,430 annually.
Wartburg College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,201 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $313, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Wartburg graduates make an average of $40,976 annually.
Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
On average, students take out $15,751 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Northwest Iowa Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,199 during the early years of their career.
Luther College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,246 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $283.After graduating from Luther, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,469 during the early years of their career.
Loras College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,552 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Loras graduates make an average of $39,708 annually.
Cornell College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking.
Once they receive their degree, Cornell College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,504 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Dordt University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
During the early years of their career, Dordt graduates make an average of $48,809 annually.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,244 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $401.After graduating from St. Ambrose University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,094 during the early years of their career.
Upper Iowa University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #15 on the list.
Degree recipients from UIU accumulate an average of $34,092 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from UIU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,288 during the early years of their career.
Buena Vista University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,426 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, BVU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,214 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Morningside College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,099 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $208. Once they receive their degree, Morningside graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,189 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #18, Waldorf University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $26,000 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Waldorf, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,483 during the early years of their career.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking.
On average, students take out $16,577 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $64, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, DMACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,576 during the early year of their career.
Coe College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Schools in Iowa list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,555 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $338, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Coe, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,874 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #21, Grand View University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Grand View University accumulate an average of $29,831 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $196, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Grand View University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,475 during the early years of their career.
Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Iowa ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,283 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, NICC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,089 during the early year of their career.
Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,121 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $180, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Graceland Lamoni graduates make an average of $54,336 annually.
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.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,679 in student loans.After graduating from Hawkeye Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,877 during the early years of their career.
Mount Mercy University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Mount Mercy accumulate an average of $29,114 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $289 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Mount Mercy, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,158 during the early years of their career.
Best Schools in the Plains States Region
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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.
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