by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Iowa ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
Our analysis looked at 19 grad schools in Iowa to determine which ones have the best master's degree programs. Our ranking for the best grad 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. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. Recent students who earned a master's degree in Iowa entered the job market making an average of $53,865 while those in the top 17 schools on our list made an average of $59,180.
Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their master's so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking. Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found University of Iowa to be the best grad school for master’s degrees in Iowa in this year’s ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,494 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,043 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 957 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Iowa State is $66,441 during the early years of their career.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Drake University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Iowa. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Des Moines, Iowa. It awarded 404 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Drake is $54,781 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 19 master’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern College landed the #4 spot on the list. NWC is located in Orange City, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 102 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a master’s degree from NWC go into careers with an average salary of $52,856 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 19 master’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Maharishi International University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fairfield, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 467 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from MIU is $109,488 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 450 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UNI is $48,706 during the early years of their career.
Morningside College did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #7. Morningside is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 315 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Morningside make an average of $61,271 a year.
Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #8 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. Graceland Lamoni is located in Lamoni, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 198 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Graceland Lamoni make an average of $64,523 per year during the early years of their career.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 200 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from St. Ambrose University make an average of $65,250 a year.
With a ranking of #10, Dordt University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. Dordt is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Center, Iowa. It awarded 58 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upper Iowa University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Fayette, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 263 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UIU make an average of $59,148 a year.
Waldorf University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 242 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,706 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Buena Vista University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. Storm Lake, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 168 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,875 during the early years of their career.
Briar Cliff University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #14. Briar Cliff is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 43 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Briar Cliff is $59,675 during the early years of their career.
Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Mount Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 155 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Mount Mercy go into careers with an average salary of $59,890 during the early years of their career.
University of Dubuque came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 140 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UD make an average of $46,976 per year during the early years of their career.
Clarke University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Clarke is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,563 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, William Penn University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa list. Located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 37 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from William Penn University is $50,860 during the early years of their career.
Grand View University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #19. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 38 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
More about our data sources and methodologies.