2027 Best Value Engineering Schools in Iowa
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Engineering Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Des Moines Area Community College the best value for a degree in engineering in Iowa. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Iowa State University, which ranked #2. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $80,285 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Loras College one of the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,824 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,528 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Loras College generally make around $43,117. That is a strong return on a $26,528 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
University Of Iowa came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,171 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $73,027. Set against $25,171 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,660. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career engineering graduates make about $35,545. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Cornell College admits about 80% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,996 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $73,622 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,996 median debt. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
Dordt College came in at #7 for value in engineering this year. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $21,812. Engineering graduates of Dordt College earn a median of $54,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,812 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Wartburg College earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,250. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $26,793. Early-career engineering graduates make about $46,918. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wartburg College admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
