by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Master'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:
After analyzing 19 schools in Iowa, we came up with our list of those that offered 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. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Our Best Master'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 account for this we include a school'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 (no aid) school for master’s degrees in Iowa in this year’s ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Iowa State University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,492 per year for graduate students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. 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 #1 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,845 per year for graduate students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Morningside College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa.
Morningside College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,926 per year for graduate students.
The quality degree programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa. 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. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,729 per year for graduate students.
Out of the 19 master’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern College landed the #5 spot on the list. NWC is located in Orange City, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Northwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,360 per year for graduate students.
Drake University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money 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. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,276 per year for graduate students.
Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #7. Graceland Lamoni is located in Lamoni, 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, Graceland University - Lamoni is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,997 a year.
Dordt University landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Not only is Dordt University a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,630 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #9, Waldorf University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. This small private for-profit school is located in Forest City, Iowa.
Not only is Waldorf University a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $12,897 per year for graduate students.
Buena Vista University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #10. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Storm Lake, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Buena Vista University is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,306 per year for graduate students.
Loras College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Dubuque, Iowa.
Not only is Loras College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,750 a year.
With a ranking of #12, Mount Mercy University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Mount Mercy University has the honor of being ranked #14 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,604 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #13, Briar Cliff University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Briar Cliff University is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,112 a year.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. St. Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Saint Ambrose University has the honor of being ranked #8 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,278 a year.
University of Dubuque came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’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.
Not only is University of Dubuque a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,240 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #16, William Penn University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. William Penn University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Not only is William Penn University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,756 per year for graduate students.
Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Fayette, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Upper Iowa University a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $29,095 a year.
Grand View University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Not only is Grand View University a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Iowa for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,960 per year for graduate students.
Maharishi International University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money in Iowa list. MIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fairfield, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Maharishi International University is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average cost without aid for the school is $39,930 per year for graduate students.
Learn More About Value at Maharishi International University
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 19 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.