# Best Business Colleges in Iowa

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 36 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-business-iowa

## Methodology

Business programs in Iowa ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Iowa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-iowa) | Iowa City, IA | 74% | $64,762 | $22,531 | $22,500 | 0.35x |
| 2 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 3 | [Mount Mercy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-mercy-university) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 57% | $60,787 | $20,168 | $23,699 | 0.39x |
| 4 | [Coe College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coe-college) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 62% | $57,125 | $18,745 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 5 | [University of Northern Iowa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-northern-iowa) | Cedar Falls, IA | 68% | $55,177 | $15,901 | $19,691 | 0.36x |
| 6 | [Drake University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drake-university) | Des Moines, IA | 76% | $71,901 | $29,127 | $23,000 | 0.32x |
| 7 | [Saint Ambrose University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-ambrose-university) | Davenport, IA | 62% | $59,531 | $24,691 | $25,000 | 0.42x |
| 8 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 9 | [Grand View University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grand-view-university) | Des Moines, IA | 55% | $52,824 | $21,774 | $22,500 | 0.43x |
| 10 | [Northwestern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-college) | Orange City, IA | 65% | $49,802 | $25,907 | $23,249 | 0.47x |
| 11 | [Dordt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dordt-university) | Sioux Center, IA | 68% | $52,559 | $25,807 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 12 | [Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-college) | Pella, IA | 68% | $54,317 | $23,377 | $26,984 | 0.5x |
| 13 | [Simpson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simpson-college) | Indianola, IA | 64% | $59,274 | $21,936 | $26,000 | 0.44x |
| 14 | [Morningside University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morningside-university) | Sioux City, IA | 52% | $55,494 | $31,320 | $26,028 | 0.47x |
| 15 | [Kirkwood Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kirkwood-community-college) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 42% | $41,016 | $9,705 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 16 | [Loras College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loras-college) | Dubuque, IA | 69% | $58,289 | $20,716 | $26,000 | 0.45x |
| 17 | [Wartburg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wartburg-college) | Waverly, IA | 66% | $56,201 | $32,908 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 18 | [Luther College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/luther-college) | Decorah, IA | 73% | $59,850 | $23,097 | $27,000 | 0.45x |
| 19 | [Cornell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cornell-college) | Mount Vernon, IA | 67% | $53,460 | $23,634 | $27,000 | 0.51x |
| 20 | [Clarke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clarke-university) | Dubuque, IA | 56% | $55,396 | $24,479 | $26,717 | 0.48x |
| 21 | [William Penn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-penn-university) | Oskaloosa, IA | 31% | $48,936 | $22,601 | $22,415 | 0.46x |
| 22 | [Briar Cliff University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/briar-cliff-university) | Sioux City, IA | 48% | $54,475 | $23,907 | $23,250 | 0.43x |
| 23 | [North Iowa Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-iowa-area-community-college) | Mason City, IA | 58% | $43,462 | $10,010 | $9,500 | 0.22x |
| 24 | [Northeast Iowa Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-iowa-community-college) | Calmar, IA | 50% | $41,306 | $11,272 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 25 | [Iowa State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-state-university) | Ames, IA | 75% | $63,386 | $18,589 | $22,869 | 0.36x |
| 26 | [University of Dubuque](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dubuque) | Dubuque, IA | 41% | $51,190 | $23,386 | $25,750 | 0.5x |
| 27 | [Iowa Central Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-central-community-college) | Fort Dodge, IA | 43% | $42,046 | $9,328 | $11,000 | 0.26x |
| 28 | [Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/faith-baptist-bible-college-and-theological-seminary) | Ankeny, IA | 64% | $40,650 | $16,282 | $12,971 | 0.32x |
| 29 | [Hawkeye Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hawkeye-community-college) | Waterloo, IA | 38% | $42,849 | $9,649 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 30 | [Iowa Lakes Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-lakes-community-college) | Estherville, IA | 36% | $43,108 | $13,933 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 31 | [Graceland University-Lamoni](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/graceland-university-lamoni) | Lamoni, IA | 40% | $47,361 | $18,504 | $21,212 | 0.45x |
| 32 | [Indian Hills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indian-hills-community-college) | Ottumwa, IA | 40% | $40,507 | $10,693 | $10,500 | 0.26x |
| 33 | [Eastern Iowa Community College District](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-iowa-community-college-district) | Davenport, IA | 39% | $39,060 | $14,017 | $12,739 | 0.33x |
| 34 | [Maharishi International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maharishi-international-university) | Fairfield, IA | 34% | $27,981 | $14,956 | $24,781 | 0.89x |
| 35 | [Ellsworth Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ellsworth-community-college) | Iowa Falls, IA | 40% | $40,562 | $11,451 | $10,000 | 0.25x |
| 36 | [Southwestern Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-community-college) | Creston, IA | 56% | $40,129 | $9,871 | $10,975 | 0.27x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Business Colleges in Iowa." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-business-iowa

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.