2022 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Communication & Media Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 9th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 68,079 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, communication and media studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,728 and had an average of $24,931 in loans still to pay off.
Across Iowa, there were 532 communication and media studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,980 and $27,392 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in communication and media studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great communication and media studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the communication and media studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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More Ways to Rank Communication & Media Studies Schools
The communications school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Media Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Iowa State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $14,161 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Iowa State University
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communications degrees to 66 students in 2019-2020.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $15,729 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at University of Northern Iowa
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 211 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2019-2020.
Iowa also took the #2 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $18,272 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Iowa.
The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Loras College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified ’s communications students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Loras has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Loras College is $18,438 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Loras College
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Maharishi International University landed the #5 spot on the list. Maharishi International University is located in Fairfield, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
MIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $12,835 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend MIU.
The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Communication & Media Studies at Maharishi International University
Central College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Central is located in Pella, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central College is $19,495 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Coe College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Coe is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 ’s communications degrees to qualified students.
Coe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Coe College is $18,375 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Drake University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Drake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $26,589 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Drake University.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Luther College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 20 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, Luther has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther is $19,852 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #10, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wartburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waverly, Iowa. It awarded 13 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Wartburg also took the #8 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $18,418 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wartburg College.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Graceland University - Lamoni is a small school located in Lamoni, Iowa that handed out 9 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Graceland Lamoni, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Graceland Lamoni is $18,800 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Graceland University - Lamoni Communication & Media Studies Report
Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s communications students in 2019-2020.
St. Ambrose University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Ambrose University is $27,002 for iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Communication & Media Studies at Saint Ambrose University
Waldorf University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Waldorf University is a small school located in Forest City, Iowa that handed out 13 ’s communications degrees in 2019-2020.
Waldorf also took the #14 spot in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Waldorf University is $21,059 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k.
University of Dubuque landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communications Schools in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our iowa communications students whose families make $48-$75k list, UD has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Communication & Media Studies Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $28,437 for Iowa Communications students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UD.
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Notes and References
References
- 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%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland.
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