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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

18 Ranked Colleges
1,245 Degrees Awarded
$19,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 3,013 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,427 and $28,543 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,245 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

The nursing 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 Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $10,843 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Nursing at Iowa State

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 214 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $15,073 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Nursing Report

#3

St Luke's College

Sioux City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Luke’s College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. St Luke’s College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

St Luke’s College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend St Luke’s College is $19,596 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full St Luke’s College Nursing Report

#4

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 #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Coe is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 23 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Coe also took the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Coe is $15,918 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about Nursing at Coe

#5

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mount Mercy University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 108 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy also took the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,098 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mount Mercy.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Full Mount Mercy University Nursing Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Graceland University - Lamoni. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 96 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $17,337 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Graceland Lamoni.

Read full report on Nursing at Graceland University - Lamoni

#7

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Decorah, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Luther not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Luther College is $17,630 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full Luther College Nursing Report

With a ranking of #8, Mercy College of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 189 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mercy College of Health Sciences, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mercy College of Health Sciences is $17,242 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences

#9

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa

With a ranking of #9, Dordt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dordt, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dordt University is $22,177 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Dordt University

#10

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grand View University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand View University is $19,245 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Grand View University Nursing Report

#11

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Briar Cliff is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Briar Cliff not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Briar Cliff is $20,688 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at Briar Cliff University

#12

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa

Northwestern College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Northwestern College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NWC also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend NWC is $20,977 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Nursing at Northwestern College

#13

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa

Morningside College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Morningside is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Morningside did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Morningside College is $19,166 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Morningside College

#14

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

With a ranking of #14, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fayette, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 99 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Upper Iowa University is $17,928 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UIU Nursing Report

#15

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. St. Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 75 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Ambrose University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Ambrose University is $24,516 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at St. Ambrose University

#16

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #16, University of Dubuque did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Dubuque is $21,715 for iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Dubuque

#17

Clarke University

Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Clarke University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Clarke has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $31,801 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Clarke University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Nursing at Clarke

#18

Iowa Wesleyan University

Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Iowa Wesleyan University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa Wesleyan has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa Wesleyan is $24,755 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Iowa Wesleyan

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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