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

13 Ranked Colleges
1,610 Degrees Awarded
$16,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 205,726 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 1,610 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,613 and $22,174 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences 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 Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences 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. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 235 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $10,054 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa State University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Iowa State University

#2

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Grinnell, Iowa, and it awarded 129 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Grinnell has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $11,945 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grinnell College.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Grinnell College Social Sciences Report

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 153 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $10,757 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Northern Iowa

#4

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 605 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $12,975 for Iowa Social Sciences 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Iowa Social Sciences Report

#5

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Coe College landed the #5 spot on the list. Coe is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 42 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

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

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Coe College

#6

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Wartburg College is located in Waverly, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Wartburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $16,334 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wartburg.

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 full report on Social Sciences at Wartburg College

#7

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Indianola, Iowa, and it awarded 23 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Simpson College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Simpson College is $15,357 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Simpson College Social Sciences Report

#8

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 36 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Social Sciences at Loras College

#9

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Central College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pella, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Central has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,172 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central.

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%.

Full Central Social Sciences Report

#10

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Cornell College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, and it awarded 19 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornell College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cornell College is $20,458 for iowa social sciences 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 more about Social Sciences at Cornell College

#11

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

Luther College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Decorah, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Luther also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Luther College is $16,636 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full Luther College Social Sciences Report

#12

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 68 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $25,212 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Drake University.

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%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Drake University

#13

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Iowa For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIU is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 92 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $21,427 for Iowa Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIU.

Full UIU Social Sciences Report

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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