# Best Education Colleges in Iowa

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 27 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-iowa

## Methodology

Education 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 Northern Iowa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-northern-iowa) | Cedar Falls, IA | 68% | $55,177 | $15,901 | $19,691 | 0.36x |
| 2 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 3 | [William Penn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-penn-university) | Oskaloosa, IA | 31% | $48,936 | $22,601 | $22,415 | 0.46x |
| 4 | [Morningside University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morningside-university) | Sioux City, IA | 52% | $55,494 | $31,320 | $26,028 | 0.47x |
| 5 | [Northwestern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-college) | Orange City, IA | 65% | $49,802 | $25,907 | $23,249 | 0.47x |
| 6 | [Mount Mercy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-mercy-university) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 57% | $60,787 | $20,168 | $23,699 | 0.39x |
| 7 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 8 | [Drake University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drake-university) | Des Moines, IA | 76% | $71,901 | $29,127 | $23,000 | 0.32x |
| 9 | [University of Iowa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-iowa) | Iowa City, IA | 74% | $64,762 | $22,531 | $22,500 | 0.35x |
| 10 | [Clarke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clarke-university) | Dubuque, IA | 56% | $55,396 | $24,479 | $26,717 | 0.48x |
| 11 | [Wartburg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wartburg-college) | Waverly, IA | 66% | $56,201 | $32,908 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 12 | [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 |
| 13 | [Cornell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cornell-college) | Mount Vernon, IA | 67% | $53,460 | $23,634 | $27,000 | 0.51x |
| 14 | [Simpson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simpson-college) | Indianola, IA | 64% | $59,274 | $21,936 | $26,000 | 0.44x |
| 15 | [Dordt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dordt-university) | Sioux Center, IA | 68% | $52,559 | $25,807 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 16 | [Coe College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coe-college) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 62% | $57,125 | $18,745 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 17 | [Saint Ambrose University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-ambrose-university) | Davenport, IA | 62% | $59,531 | $24,691 | $25,000 | 0.42x |
| 18 | [Luther College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/luther-college) | Decorah, IA | 73% | $59,850 | $23,097 | $27,000 | 0.45x |
| 19 | [Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-college) | Pella, IA | 68% | $54,317 | $23,377 | $26,984 | 0.5x |
| 20 | [Briar Cliff University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/briar-cliff-university) | Sioux City, IA | 48% | $54,475 | $23,907 | $23,250 | 0.43x |
| 21 | [Grand View University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grand-view-university) | Des Moines, IA | 55% | $52,824 | $21,774 | $22,500 | 0.43x |
| 22 | [Loras College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loras-college) | Dubuque, IA | 69% | $58,289 | $20,716 | $26,000 | 0.45x |
| 23 | [Indian Hills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indian-hills-community-college) | Ottumwa, IA | 40% | $40,507 | $10,693 | $10,500 | 0.26x |
| 24 | [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 |
| 25 | [Iowa State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-state-university) | Ames, IA | 75% | $63,386 | $18,589 | $22,869 | 0.36x |
| 26 | [Graceland University-Lamoni](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/graceland-university-lamoni) | Lamoni, IA | 40% | $47,361 | $18,504 | $21,212 | 0.45x |
| 27 | [University of Dubuque](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dubuque) | Dubuque, IA | 41% | $51,190 | $23,386 | $25,750 | 0.5x |

## 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 Education Colleges in Iowa." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-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/.