# Best Online Colleges in Iowa

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-07 | Schools: 38 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-colleges-iowa

## Methodology

Online programs in Iowa ranked by outcomes and value

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 | [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 |
| 3 | [Northwest Iowa Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-iowa-community-college) | Sheldon, IA | 57% | $50,776 | $14,800 | $9,500 | 0.19x |
| 4 | [Drake University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drake-university) | Des Moines, IA | 76% | $71,901 | $29,127 | $23,000 | 0.32x |
| 5 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 6 | [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 |
| 7 | [Kirkwood Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kirkwood-community-college) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 42% | $41,016 | $9,705 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 8 | [Marshalltown Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marshalltown-community-college) | Marshalltown, IA | 40% | $41,010 | $8,059 | $9,500 | 0.23x |
| 9 | [Mount Mercy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-mercy-university) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 57% | $60,787 | $20,168 | $23,699 | 0.39x |
| 10 | [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 |
| 11 | [Saint Ambrose University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-ambrose-university) | Davenport, IA | 62% | $59,531 | $24,691 | $25,000 | 0.42x |
| 12 | [Simpson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simpson-college) | Indianola, IA | 64% | $59,274 | $21,936 | $26,000 | 0.44x |
| 13 | [Grand View University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grand-view-university) | Des Moines, IA | 55% | $52,824 | $21,774 | $22,500 | 0.43x |
| 14 | [Des Moines Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/des-moines-area-community-college) | Ankeny, IA | 37% | $41,018 | $11,171 | $11,000 | 0.27x |
| 15 | [Hawkeye Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hawkeye-community-college) | Waterloo, IA | 38% | $42,849 | $9,649 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 16 | [Dordt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dordt-university) | Sioux Center, IA | 68% | $52,559 | $25,807 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 17 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 18 | [Western Iowa Tech Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-iowa-tech-community-college) | Sioux City, IA | 44% | $40,473 | $8,770 | $11,000 | 0.27x |
| 19 | [Iowa Lakes Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-lakes-community-college) | Estherville, IA | 36% | $43,108 | $13,933 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 20 | [Northeast Iowa Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-iowa-community-college) | Calmar, IA | 50% | $41,306 | $11,272 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 21 | [Indian Hills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indian-hills-community-college) | Ottumwa, IA | 40% | $40,507 | $10,693 | $10,500 | 0.26x |
| 22 | [Clarke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clarke-university) | Dubuque, IA | 56% | $55,396 | $24,479 | $26,717 | 0.48x |
| 23 | [Iowa Western Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-western-community-college) | Council Bluffs, IA | 40% | $42,793 | $14,629 | $11,033 | 0.26x |
| 24 | [Briar Cliff University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/briar-cliff-university) | Sioux City, IA | 48% | $54,475 | $23,907 | $23,250 | 0.43x |
| 25 | [William Penn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-penn-university) | Oskaloosa, IA | 31% | $48,936 | $22,601 | $22,415 | 0.46x |
| 26 | [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 |
| 27 | [Morningside University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morningside-university) | Sioux City, IA | 52% | $55,494 | $31,320 | $26,028 | 0.47x |
| 28 | [Iowa State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-state-university) | Ames, IA | 75% | $63,386 | $18,589 | $22,869 | 0.36x |
| 29 | [Graceland University-Lamoni](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/graceland-university-lamoni) | Lamoni, IA | 40% | $47,361 | $18,504 | $21,212 | 0.45x |
| 30 | [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 |
| 31 | [Ellsworth Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ellsworth-community-college) | Iowa Falls, IA | 40% | $40,562 | $11,451 | $10,000 | 0.25x |
| 32 | [University of Dubuque](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dubuque) | Dubuque, IA | 41% | $51,190 | $23,386 | $25,750 | 0.5x |
| 33 | [Northwestern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-college) | Orange City, IA | 65% | $49,802 | $25,907 | $23,249 | 0.47x |
| 34 | [Emmaus Bible College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emmaus-bible-college) | Dubuque, IA | 82% | $42,631 | $13,186 | $15,750 | 0.37x |
| 35 | [Southeastern Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-community-college) | West Burlington, IA | 43% | $36,882 | $12,347 | $12,000 | 0.33x |
| 36 | [Mercy College of Health Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mercy-college-of-health-sciences) | Des Moines, IA | 56% | $62,234 | $26,924 | $14,745 | 0.24x |
| 37 | [Maharishi International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maharishi-international-university) | Fairfield, IA | 34% | $27,981 | $14,956 | $24,781 | 0.89x |
| 38 | [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 Online Colleges in Iowa." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-07. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-colleges-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/.