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

34 Ranked Colleges
3,013 Degrees Awarded
$11,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

#1

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Southeastern Community College is located in West Burlington, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Southeastern Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $6,527 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at Southeastern Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 95 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Western Iowa Tech Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $5,287 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Nursing Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Iowa Area Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. North Iowa Area Community College is a small school located in Mason City, Iowa that handed out 44 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College also made our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend North Iowa Area Community College is $7,397 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at North Iowa Area Community College

#24 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Northeast Iowa Community College is located in Calmar, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, NICC has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Iowa Community College is $9,153 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at NICC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 184 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

DMACC also made our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $8,543 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at DMACC

Iowa State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $10,843 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Nursing at Iowa State

Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Sheldon, Iowa, this small public school awarded 50 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwest Iowa Community College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $8,623 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Nursing Report

#8

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 142 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Kirkwood Community College also made our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $8,831 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Kirkwood Community College Nursing Report

Iowa Central Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this small public school handed out 61 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $8,734 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Iowa Central Community College

#10

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa

Marshalltown Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Marshalltown, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $5,012 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Marshalltown Community College

#11

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 119 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa Western Community College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,002 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Iowa Western Community College

Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 103 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Iowa Community College District is $9,578 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

Indian Hills Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indian Hills Community College is a small school located in Ottumwa, Iowa that handed out 48 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,646 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indian Hills Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Indian Hills Community College

#14

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

Hawkeye Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 128 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Hawkeye Community College is $9,083 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Hawkeye Community College

Southwestern Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southwestern Community College is located in Creston, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $7,649 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SWCC.

Full Southwestern Community College Nursing Report

#16

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 294 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $15,073 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.

Read more about Nursing at University of Iowa

#17

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa

Ellsworth Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Ellsworth is a public institution located in Iowa Falls, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ellsworth Community College is $9,192 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Ellsworth

#18

St Luke's College

Sioux City, Iowa

With a ranking of #18, St Luke’s College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. St Luke’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 87 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

St Luke’s College also took the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Luke’s College is $19,596 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full St Luke’s College Nursing Report

#19

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, Iowa

Iowa Lakes Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Estherville, Iowa, this small public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Iowa Lakes Community College is $6,939 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Iowa Lakes Community College Nursing Report

Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Lamoni, Iowa, and it awarded 320 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Graceland University - Lamoni is $17,337 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Graceland Lamoni

#21

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

With a ranking of #21, Coe College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Coe is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Coe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $15,918 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Coe College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Coe College

#22

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 118 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy also took the #13 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,098 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mount Mercy.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Mount Mercy University

#23

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Luther College is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 39 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Luther also took the #2 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther is $17,630 for Iowa Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read full report on Nursing at Luther

With a ranking of #24, Mercy College of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools 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 220 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Mercy College of Health Sciences has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mercy College of Health Sciences is $17,242 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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

#25

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dordt University is a small school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 21 ’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Dordt also made our “Best Nursing Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Dordt University is $22,177 for iowa nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt Nursing Report

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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.

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