by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. 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 $48-$75k for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 19 schools in Iowa to determine which ones have the best value Master's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Master's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $48-$75k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. 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 include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
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 $48-$75k) school for master’s degrees in Iowa in this year’s ranking. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa.
Not only is Iowa State University a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Iowa for overall quality.
The quality degree programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
University of Northern Iowa has the honor of being ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Out of the 19 master’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Not only is University of Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Buena Vista University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) 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 #13 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loras College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) 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 #12 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Graceland University - Lamoni a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Iowa for overall quality.
Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #7. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Mount Mercy University is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Iowa.
Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #8. St. Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Saint Ambrose University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Iowa for overall quality.
Upper Iowa University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. UIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa.
Upper Iowa University has the honor of being ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Maharishi International University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Fairfield, Iowa.
Not only is Maharishi International University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Iowa for overall quality.
Read full value report on Maharishi International University
With a ranking of #11, Northwestern College did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Northwestern College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Orange City, Iowa.
Not only is Northwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Iowa for overall quality.
Morningside College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux City, Iowa.
Not only is Morningside College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Iowa for overall quality.
With a ranking of #13, Drake University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Drake is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Drake University is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Iowa.
Waldorf University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Waldorf University is a small private for-profit school located in Forest City, Iowa.
Waldorf University has the honor of being ranked #16 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
With a ranking of #15, Briar Cliff University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux City, Iowa.
Briar Cliff University has the honor of being ranked #15 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Dordt University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Dordt is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Dordt University has the honor of being ranked #10 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
William Penn University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
William Penn University has the honor of being ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value.
University of Dubuque ranked #18 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is University of Dubuque a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Iowa for overall quality.
Grand View University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #19. Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Grand View University a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Iowa for overall quality.
View Best Value Master’s Degree Schools (Income $48-$75k) Nationwide >
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 19 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.