by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. 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 $30-$48k ranking - to help you make that decision. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Iowa to determine which ones have the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $30-$48k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Iowa State University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $30-$48k) school in Iowa for overall quality. This large public school is 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 $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,986.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list means University of Northern Iowa is a great place for students working on their degree. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Northern Iowa is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,562.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list means University of Iowa is a great place for students working on their degree. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and has a large student population. It is a public school.
University of Iowa has the honor of being ranked #2 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $14,089.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is Des Moines Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,682.
The quality degree programs at Maharishi International University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa. Maharishi International University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fairfield, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Maharishi International University is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $12,414.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Western Iowa Tech Community College has the honor of being ranked #29 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,706.
Read full value report on Western Iowa Tech Community College
With a ranking of #7, Marshalltown Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Marshalltown Community College is a small public school located in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Not only is Marshalltown Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,832.
Iowa Central Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Iowa Central Community College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,215.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Kirkwood Community College is ranked #27 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,804.
Indian Hills Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. IHCC is a public institution located in Ottumwa, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indian Hills Community College is ranked #34 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,417.
Iowa Western Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Iowa Western Community College 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 $30-$48k per year is $9,928.
Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. Calmar, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Northeast Iowa Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #28 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,319.
Southeastern Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13. West Burlington, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Southeastern Community College has the honor of being ranked #38 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,483.
Grinnell College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Grinnell is located in Grinnell, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Grinnell College has the honor of being ranked #3 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $18,452.
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. This small public school is located in Sheldon, Iowa.
Not only is Northwest Iowa Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #30 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,977.
With a ranking of #16, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Located in Mason City, Iowa, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is North Iowa Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #39 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,755.
Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #17. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Waterloo, Iowa.
Not only is Hawkeye Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,644.
Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #18. This small public school is located in Creston, Iowa.
Not only is Southwestern Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,545.
With a ranking of #19, Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Iowa Community College District is ranked #36 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,344.
Coe College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. Coe is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Coe College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $14,379.
Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lamoni, Iowa.
Not only is Graceland University - Lamoni a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $15,663.
With a ranking of #22, Loras College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. Loras is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa.
Not only is Loras College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,513.
Buena Vista University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa list. BVU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Buena Vista University has the honor of being ranked #19 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $15,178.
Luther College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Luther College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $18,668.
Simpson College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianola, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Simpson College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $18,412.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.