by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Iowa Schools For The Money For Those Making $0-$30k for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 25 schools in Iowa, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Iowa State University to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for bachelor’s degrees in Iowa in this year’s ranking. Iowa State University is a large public school located in Ames, Iowa.
Not only is Iowa State University a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,148.
The quality degree programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa. This medium-sized public school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Not only is University of Northern Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,720.
Out of the 25 bachelor’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Iowa is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,772.
Out of the 25 bachelor’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #4 spot on the list. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Grinnell, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Grinnell College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,470.
The quality degree programs at Coe College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Coe College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,451.
Loras College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Loras College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,470.
With a ranking of #7, Simpson College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Simpson College is located in Indianola, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Simpson College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $16,374.
Wartburg College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. Waverly, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Wartburg College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $15,460.
Buena Vista University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. BVU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Buena Vista University has the honor of being ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $14,607.
Luther College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Luther College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $18,770.
Cornell College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Cornell College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $17,340.
Dordt University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dordt University is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $19,354.
With a ranking of #13, Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Lamoni, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Graceland University - Lamoni has the honor of being ranked #21 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $16,809.
Drake University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. Drake University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Drake University has the honor of being ranked #5 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $23,262.
Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Saint Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Davenport, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saint Ambrose University is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $21,762.
With a ranking of #16, Mount Mercy University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Mount Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Mount Mercy University is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $19,111.
Northwestern College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. NWC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange City, Iowa.
Northwestern College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $20,256.
Briar Cliff University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Briar Cliff University has the honor of being ranked #22 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $19,969.
Waldorf University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Forest City, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Waldorf University is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $22,146.
With a ranking of #20, Morningside College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Morningside is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa.
Morningside College has the honor of being ranked #14 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $22,765.
University of Dubuque ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. UD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Dubuque is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $18,546.
Clarke University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Dubuque, Iowa.
Clarke University has the honor of being ranked #19 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $21,597.
William Penn University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, William Penn University is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $20,057.
With a ranking of #24, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa list. UIU is located in Fayette, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Upper Iowa University a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $24,301.
Grand View University landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Grand View University has the honor of being ranked #23 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $35,224.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.