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 Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 25 schools in Iowa to determine which ones have 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. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various 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:
Iowa State University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (no aid) school for bachelor’s degrees in Iowa for overall quality. 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. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,722 a year for undergraduates.
Out of the 25 bachelor’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Iowa is a large public school located in Iowa City, Iowa.
University of Iowa has the honor of being ranked #2 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,722 a year for undergraduates.
Out of the 25 bachelor’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Northern Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,213 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waldorf University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Waldorf University is a small private for-profit school 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 cost without aid for the school is $31,728 a year for undergraduates.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list means William Penn University is a great place for students working on their degree. William Penn University is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is William Penn University a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $34,456 a year.
With a ranking of #6, Dordt University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Dordt University is a small private not-for-profit school 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 cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $44,370 a year.
Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #7. Upper Iowa University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fayette, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Upper Iowa University is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $43,019 a year.
Loras College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Loras College a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $44,028 a year for undergraduates.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Located in Davenport, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
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. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $45,208 a year.
Northwestern College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Orange City, Iowa.
Not only is Northwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $43,590 a year for undergraduates.
Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Graceland University - Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lamoni, Iowa.
Graceland University - Lamoni has the honor of being ranked #21 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $41,730 a year for undergraduates.
Grand View University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution 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. The average cost without aid for the school is $41,474 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #13, Morningside College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa.
Not only is Morningside College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $45,680 a year.
Briar Cliff University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Briar Cliff is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Briar Cliff University is ranked #22 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $43,580 a year.
With a ranking of #15, Buena Vista University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Buena Vista University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $47,888 a year for undergraduates.
Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Mount Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated 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 cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $46,968 a year.
Clarke University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. Dubuque, 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, Clarke University is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost without aid for the school is $47,270 a year for undergraduates.
University of Dubuque landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. UD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa.
Not only is University of Dubuque a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $46,310 a year for undergraduates.
Simpson College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #19. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Indianola, Iowa.
Not only is Simpson College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $53,684 a year.
With a ranking of #20, Drake University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Drake University has the honor of being ranked #5 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $57,200 a year.
Luther College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #21. Decorah, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Luther College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $57,120 a year for undergraduates.
Wartburg College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Waverly, Iowa.
Wartburg College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $57,490 a year.
Cornell College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Not only is Cornell College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $58,282 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #24, Coe College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Coe is a small private not-for-profit school situated 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 cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $59,342 a year.
With a ranking of #25, Grinnell College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. 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 cost without aid for the school is $72,998 a year for undergraduates.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.