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2022 Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

20 Ranked Colleges
1,466 Degrees Awarded
$17,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Psychology 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 Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 183,889 psychology students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,496 and had an average of $36,227 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 1,466 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,252 and $34,269 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in psychology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality psychology 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 psychology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 20 Best Value Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Psychology 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 handed out 222 degrees to qualified ’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $10,054 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa State.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Iowa State University Psychology Report

#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 Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Northern Iowa is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 143 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Northern Iowa Psychology Report

#3

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #3 spot on the list. Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grinnell, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grinnell, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grinnell College is $11,945 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full Grinnell Psychology Report

#4

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s psychology degrees to 292 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $12,975 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Psychology at Iowa

#5

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Simpson College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indianola, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s psychology degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Simpson College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $15,357 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Simpson College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Psychology at Simpson College

#6

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 81 diplomas to qualified ’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

BVU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for BVU is $14,210 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Buena Vista University Psychology Report

#7

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Coe College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 38 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Coe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Coe College is $14,590 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Psychology at Coe College

#8

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wartburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waverly, Iowa. It awarded 18 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

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

#9

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Central College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central College is a small school located in Pella, Iowa that handed out 13 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Central also made our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Central is $19,172 for Iowa Psychology 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 more about Psychology at Central

#10

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #10, Loras College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loras College is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 24 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Loras has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loras is $16,154 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Loras Psychology Report

#11

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

Cornell College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cornell College is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Iowa that handed out 37 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cornell College is $20,458 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Psychology at Cornell College

#12

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 ’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Grand View University also made our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $18,481 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grand View University.

Read more about Psychology at Grand View University

#13

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

With a ranking of #13, Luther College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 21 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Luther, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther is $16,636 for iowa psychology 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 Psychology at Luther

#14

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mount Mercy University is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 23 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Mercy is $13,992 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Mount Mercy University Psychology Report

Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lamoni, Iowa, and it awarded 13 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Graceland Lamoni is $15,015 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Psychology at Graceland Lamoni

#16

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa

Waldorf University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s psychology degrees to 99 students in 2019-2020.

Waldorf also made our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Waldorf is $19,719 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Psychology at Waldorf

#17

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also took the #16 spot in our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $23,977 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Ambrose University.

Read full report on Psychology at St. Ambrose University

#18

Clarke University

Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Clarke is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 ’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Clarke also took the #18 spot in our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Clarke is $32,534 for iowa psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

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. 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%.

Read more about Psychology at Clarke

#19

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Drake is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 ’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $25,212 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Drake.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Psychology at Drake University

#20

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIU is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 129 ’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Psychology Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $21,427 for Iowa Psychology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Upper Iowa University.

Read more about Psychology at Upper Iowa 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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