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2022 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

15 Ranked Colleges
1,247 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 121,387 people earned their degree in communication and journalism, making the major the 11th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, communication and journalism graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,549 and had an average of $24,893 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 1,247 communication and journalism graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,065 and $24,847 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in communication and journalism. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality communication and journalism programs that also have a lower cost than 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 journalism program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Communication & Journalism Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Communication & Journalism (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 293 diplomas to qualified ’s communication and journalism students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $10,054 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Iowa State University

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 155 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNI has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,757 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNI.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at University of Northern Iowa

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s communication and journalism degrees to 409 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $12,975 for Iowa Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Iowa

#4

Central College

Pella, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Central College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pella, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Central College is $19,172 for Iowa Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Central College

#5

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Coe College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Coe College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 ’s communication and journalism degrees to qualified students.

Coe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Coe is $14,590 for Iowa Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Coe College

#6

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, Loras College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 26 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $16,154 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Loras College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Loras

#7

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wartburg College is a small school located in Waverly, Iowa that handed out 13 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wartburg has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wartburg College is $16,334 for Iowa Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Wartburg College

#8

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. BVU is a small school located in Storm Lake, Iowa that handed out 11 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

BVU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $14,210 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Buena Vista University.

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.

Full Buena Vista University Communication & Journalism Report

#14 in overall quality

Maharishi International University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Fairfield, Iowa, and it awarded 3 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

MIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend MIU is $12,278 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MIU Communication & Journalism Report

Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lamoni, Iowa, and it awarded 9 ’s communication and journalism 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 & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Graceland University - Lamoni is $15,015 for Iowa Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Graceland University - Lamoni

#11

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Luther College is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 20 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Luther, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther is $16,636 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Communication & Journalism at Luther

#12

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Drake University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Des Moines, Iowa. It awarded 100 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Drake University is $25,212 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Drake University Communication & Journalism Report

#13

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Saint Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 13 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Ambrose University is $23,977 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Saint Ambrose University Communication & Journalism Report

#14

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa

University of Dubuque did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Dubuque is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 27 ’s communication and journalism degrees in 2019-2020.

UD also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend University of Dubuque is $19,369 for Iowa Communication & Journalism students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at University of Dubuque

#15

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, Waldorf University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Waldorf University is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Waldorf also made our “Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $19,719 for iowa communication & journalism students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waldorf.

Read more about Communication & Journalism at Waldorf University

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.

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