College ROI in Iowa
See the strongest eligible ROI and value signals, then browse every covered college located in the state.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Iowa's everyday prices are 12.2% below the U.S. average
This statewide BEA benchmark helps put college budgets in context. It is not tuition, a campus-specific cost estimate or an input to our ROI rankings.
- Overall prices
- 87.8
- Housing
- 65.3
- Utilities
- 83.3
Best estimated 10-year return
27 colleges meet the consistent ROI screen.
1Iowa State UniversityAmes · Public−21%2University of IowaIowa City · Public−21%3Drake UniversityDes Moines · Private nonprofit−23%4Waldorf UniversityForest City · Private nonprofit−24%5Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport · Private nonprofit−34%6Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids · Private nonprofit−37%7William Penn UniversityOskaloosa · Private nonprofit−39%8Mercy College of Health SciencesDes Moines · Private nonprofit−39%9Grinnell CollegeGrinnell · Private nonprofit−45%10Morningside UniversitySioux City · Private nonprofit−46%
Most earnings per price dollar
Observed five-year earnings divided by annual average net price.
1Iowa State UniversityAmes · Public3.5×2Grinnell CollegeGrinnell · Private nonprofit3.3×3Waldorf UniversityForest City · Private nonprofit3.3×4University of Northern IowaCedar Falls · Public3.3×5Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids · Private nonprofit3.0×6University of IowaIowa City · Public2.9×7Coe CollegeCedar Rapids · Private nonprofit2.9×8Graceland University-LamoniLamoni · Private nonprofit2.8×9William Penn UniversityOskaloosa · Private nonprofit2.7×10Loras CollegeDubuque · Private nonprofit2.7×
LOW DEBT · SOLID COMPLETION
Where completer borrowers leave with less federal debt
Limited to currently operating colleges with at least 500 students and a completion rate at or above the Iowa median among debt-reporting colleges.
1North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City · Public$9,500median federal debt61%college completion2Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldon · Public$9,500median federal debt58%college completion3Southwestern Community CollegeCreston · Public$10,975median federal debt59%college completion4Mercy College of Health SciencesDes Moines · Private nonprofit$14,745median federal debt66%college completion5Grinnell CollegeGrinnell · Private nonprofit$17,500median federal debt88%college completion6University of Northern IowaCedar Falls · Public$19,691median federal debt68%college completion7Dordt UniversitySioux Center · Private nonprofit$21,500median federal debt70%college completion8University of IowaIowa City · Public$22,500median federal debt75%college completion9Iowa State UniversityAmes · Public$22,869median federal debt75%college completion10Drake UniversityDes Moines · Private nonprofit$23,000median federal debt74%college completion
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. This view does not rank ROI or guarantee affordability.ALL COLLEGES IN IA
Browse the full Iowa directory
75 matching colleges · page 3 of 3
The directory includes every College Scorecard institution assigned to Iowa, including online-only colleges at their federal administrative location and historical records marked as not currently operating. Online-only colleges are labeled and excluded from state top-10 lists because their students are not confined to that state. “Not available” means a required federal value was missing or suppressed. Top-10 ROI eligibility requires current operating status, a reported bachelor’s-level program, at least 500 students, observed earnings and average net price of at least $1,000.