by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Iowa to determine which ones have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best 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 consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on 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 in Iowa in this year’s ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, the school is a large public institution.
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 $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,717.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
University of Northern Iowa has the honor of being ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,236.
The quality degree programs at Des Moines Area Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and has a large student population. It is a public school.
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 $48-$75k per year is $10,962.
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list means Marshalltown Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. This small public school is located in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Marshalltown Community College has the honor of being ranked #33 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,564.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. 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 $48-$75k per year is $18,317.
With a ranking of #6, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Western Iowa Tech Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,321.
Read full value report on Western Iowa Tech Community College
Iowa Central Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Fort Dodge, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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 $48-$75k per year is $10,272.
Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Northeast Iowa Community College is a small public school located in Calmar, Iowa.
Northeast Iowa Community College has the honor of being ranked #28 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,151.
With a ranking of #9, Indian Hills Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. 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 $48-$75k per year is $8,091.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Not only is Kirkwood Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $9,573.
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Sheldon, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Northwest Iowa Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #30 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,760.
Southeastern Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. This small public school is located in West Burlington, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southeastern Community College is ranked #38 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,911.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Not only is Iowa Western Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,276.
Grinnell College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Grinnell is located in Grinnell, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Grinnell College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $20,113.
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Located in Mason City, Iowa, the school is a small public institution.
North Iowa Area Community College has the honor of being ranked #39 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,297.
Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #16. Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Hawkeye Community College is ranked #32 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,976.
Loras College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #17. Loras is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Loras College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,930.
Simpson College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianola, Iowa.
Not only is Simpson College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,607.
Buena Vista University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Buena Vista University is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Iowa. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,732.
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa list. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a medium-sized public school situated in Davenport, Iowa.
Eastern Iowa Community College District has the honor of being ranked #36 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,037.
Southwestern Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. 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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,870.
Coe College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #22. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Coe College has the honor of being ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,554.
Mount Mercy University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Not only is Mount Mercy University a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Iowa for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,368.
Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking. Graceland Lamoni is located in Lamoni, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
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 $48-$75k per year is $18,021.
Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #25. St. Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davenport, Iowa.
Not only is Saint Ambrose University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Iowa for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $20,766.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.