2027 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Iowa
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for chemistry students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Chemistry Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
Grinnell College tops our 2027 list of the best value chemistry schools in Iowa. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. Students from in state pay about $68,196 in tuition and fees. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $17,154 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $38,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #2 place for chemistry. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $57,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at Luther College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,120 in tuition and fees. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Luther College generally make around $42,426. That is a strong return on a $26,967 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Iowa one of the best values for chemistry. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $25,956 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $44,847. Set against $25,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at Drake University, which ranked #5. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $22,273. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
