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Graceland University-Lamoni logo
Private nonprofit Lamoni, IA · Rural · Plains · 100% data
B+ Diversity B- Earnings C Value
Graduation Rate
40% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$47,361 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$18,504 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
81% C-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +16% vs avg
Graduation -30% vs avg
Net Price 8% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa.

15.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,057,975.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $15.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Graceland University-Lamoni Matters

Graceland University-Lamoni is a private university in Lamoni, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
798
Setting
Rural
Designations
99
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice

Why students choose Graceland University-Lamoni

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 48% overall
B-
Earnings
$47,361 median
C
Value
2.6× net price
C-
Affordability
$18,504/yr net
D
Graduation
40% graduate
C-
Selectivity
81% admit rate
B+
Diversity
0.72 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Graceland University-Lamoni has an 81% acceptance rate, making it accessible to a wide range of students. With an enrollment of 798, it offers a close-knit community atmosphere. The university emphasizes student support and engagement, which can be a significant draw for those seeking a more personalized educational experience.

Data from Chetty and Opportunity Insights highlights that Graceland graduates earn an average of $47,361 ten years after enrollment. While specific mobility rates are not available, the strong earnings potential suggests that students can find success in various fields, particularly in health professions, business, and education. Nearly half of the student body receives Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to serving lower-income students.

Attending Graceland costs an average net price of $18,504. Graduates leave with a median debt of $21,212, which is manageable given their earning potential. Students who thrive here are often those who value a supportive environment and are eager to engage in their chosen fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Graceland University-Lamoni is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Graceland University-Lamoni? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Lamoni, Iowa, Graceland University-Lamoni admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

Acceptance Rate
81%
Retention Rate
55%
ACT Midpoint
20
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,885
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.72
First-Gen Students
38%
Applicants
2,011
Admitted
1,498

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Graceland University-Lamoni? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Graceland University-Lamoni is $20,950, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,504. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,875 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,212 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$20,950
Out-of-State
$20,950
Avg Net Price
$18,504
Median Debt
$21,212
Pell Grant Rate
49%
Federal Loan Rate
78%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$15,875
Family Income $30K–$48K
$16,390
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,883
Family Income $110K+
$21,560

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Graceland University-Lamoni — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Graceland University-Lamoni Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Graceland University-Lamoni earn a median of $47,361, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$40,792
8 Years
$45,190
10 Years
$47,361
Debt-to-Earnings
0.45x
Earning > $25K
66%

Earnings Trajectory

$40,792 6yr $45,190 8yr $47,361 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (85)
30%
100% (85)
30%
100% (85)
30%
100% (85)
30%

How Graceland Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation40%Earnings 10yr$47KNet Price$19KRetention55%Median Debt$21KPell Grant Rate49%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$16K$0-30K$16K$30-48K$21K$48-75K$22K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Graceland University-Lamoni Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Graceland University-Lamoni delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,504/year ($74,016 total). Graduates earn $47,361 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,131,991 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,057,975 (15.3× your investment). The median debt is $21,212, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$74,016
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,131,991
Net Return
$1,057,975
ROI Multiple
15.3×
Cost Per Year
$18,504
Median Debt
$21,212
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
40%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Graceland University-Lamoni? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Graceland University-Lamoni. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.63
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.04
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
8.1%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$7,209,214
Investment Income
$-1,901,344

Top Programs

The fields Graceland University-Lamoni awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Graceland University-Lamoni? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Lamoni, Iowa, Graceland University-Lamoni admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Graceland University-Lamoni? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Graceland University-Lamoni is $20,950, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,504. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,875 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,212 in federal student loans.

Is Graceland University-Lamoni Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Graceland University-Lamoni earn a median of $47,361, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is Graceland University-Lamoni? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Graceland University-Lamoni. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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