# Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 45 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-iowa

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Iowa

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.

## Summary

In Iowa, affordability is a key factor for many students considering higher education. The colleges on this list share a commitment to keeping costs low while providing pathways to solid careers. With net prices hovering around $8,000 to $10,000, these institutions make higher education accessible to many families.

What sets these affordable schools apart is not just their low tuition, but also their outcomes. The average earnings for graduates from these colleges is around $49,941, with a graduation rate averaging 55%. This means students not only graduate but also find jobs that pay well enough to manage their student debt, which typically ranges from $9,500 to $12,000.

For instance, Marshalltown Community College stands out with a graduation rate of 40% and a net price of $8,059, while Kirkwood Community College has a higher graduation rate at 42% but a slightly higher net price at $9,705. This contrast highlights the tradeoff between cost and completion — a crucial consideration as students weigh their options.

## Key Findings

- Marshalltown Community College has a net price of $8,059 and average earnings of $41,010.
- Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates have a 44% graduation rate and average debt of $11,000.
- Iowa Central Community College graduates earn an average of $42,046 with a net price of $9,328.
- Hawkeye Community College has a graduation rate of 38% and a net price of $9,649.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Marshalltown Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marshalltown-community-college) | Marshalltown, IA | 40% | $41,010 | $8,059 | $9,500 | 0.23x |
| 2 | [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 |
| 3 | [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 |
| 4 | [Kirkwood Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kirkwood-community-college) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 42% | $41,016 | $9,705 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 5 | [Hawkeye Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hawkeye-community-college) | Waterloo, IA | 38% | $42,849 | $9,649 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 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 | [Southwestern Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-community-college) | Creston, IA | 56% | $40,129 | $9,871 | $10,975 | 0.27x |
| 8 | [Indian Hills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indian-hills-community-college) | Ottumwa, IA | 40% | $40,507 | $10,693 | $10,500 | 0.26x |
| 9 | [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 |
| 10 | [Northeast Iowa Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-iowa-community-college) | Calmar, IA | 50% | $41,306 | $11,272 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 11 | [Ellsworth Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ellsworth-community-college) | Iowa Falls, IA | 40% | $40,562 | $11,451 | $10,000 | 0.25x |
| 12 | [Southeastern Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-community-college) | West Burlington, IA | 43% | $36,882 | $12,347 | $12,000 | 0.33x |
| 13 | [Emmaus Bible College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emmaus-bible-college) | Dubuque, IA | 82% | $42,631 | $13,186 | $15,750 | 0.37x |
| 14 | [Iowa Lakes Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-lakes-community-college) | Estherville, IA | 36% | $43,108 | $13,933 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 15 | [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 |
| 16 | [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 |
| 17 | [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 |
| 18 | [Northwest Iowa Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-iowa-community-college) | Sheldon, IA | 57% | $50,776 | $14,800 | $9,500 | 0.19x |
| 19 | [Maharishi International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maharishi-international-university) | Fairfield, IA | 34% | $27,981 | $14,956 | $24,781 | 0.89x |
| 20 | [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 |
| 21 | [Grinnell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grinnell-college) | Grinnell, IA | 88% | $62,830 | $17,648 | $17,500 | 0.28x |
| 22 | [Coe College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coe-college) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 62% | $57,125 | $18,745 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 23 | [Iowa State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/iowa-state-university) | Ames, IA | 75% | $63,386 | $18,589 | $22,869 | 0.36x |
| 24 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 25 | [Graceland University-Lamoni](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/graceland-university-lamoni) | Lamoni, IA | 40% | $47,361 | $18,504 | $21,212 | 0.45x |
| 26 | [Mount Mercy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-mercy-university) | Cedar Rapids, IA | 57% | $60,787 | $20,168 | $23,699 | 0.39x |
| 27 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 28 | [Loras College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loras-college) | Dubuque, IA | 69% | $58,289 | $20,716 | $26,000 | 0.45x |
| 29 | [Grand View University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grand-view-university) | Des Moines, IA | 55% | $52,824 | $21,774 | $22,500 | 0.43x |
| 30 | [University of Iowa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-iowa) | Iowa City, IA | 74% | $64,762 | $22,531 | $22,500 | 0.35x |
| 31 | [Simpson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/simpson-college) | Indianola, IA | 64% | $59,274 | $21,936 | $26,000 | 0.44x |
| 32 | [William Penn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-penn-university) | Oskaloosa, IA | 31% | $48,936 | $22,601 | $22,415 | 0.46x |
| 33 | [Luther College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/luther-college) | Decorah, IA | 73% | $59,850 | $23,097 | $27,000 | 0.45x |
| 34 | [Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-college) | Pella, IA | 68% | $54,317 | $23,377 | $26,984 | 0.5x |
| 35 | [Cornell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cornell-college) | Mount Vernon, IA | 67% | $53,460 | $23,634 | $27,000 | 0.51x |
| 36 | [University of Dubuque](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dubuque) | Dubuque, IA | 41% | $51,190 | $23,386 | $25,750 | 0.5x |
| 37 | [Clarke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clarke-university) | Dubuque, IA | 56% | $55,396 | $24,479 | $26,717 | 0.48x |
| 38 | [Saint Ambrose University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-ambrose-university) | Davenport, IA | 62% | $59,531 | $24,691 | $25,000 | 0.42x |
| 39 | [Briar Cliff University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/briar-cliff-university) | Sioux City, IA | 48% | $54,475 | $23,907 | $23,250 | 0.43x |
| 40 | [Northwestern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-college) | Orange City, IA | 65% | $49,802 | $25,907 | $23,249 | 0.47x |
| 41 | [Dordt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dordt-university) | Sioux Center, IA | 68% | $52,559 | $25,807 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 42 | [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 |
| 43 | [Drake University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/drake-university) | Des Moines, IA | 76% | $71,901 | $29,127 | $23,000 | 0.32x |
| 44 | [Morningside University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morningside-university) | Sioux City, IA | 52% | $55,494 | $31,320 | $26,028 | 0.47x |
| 45 | [Wartburg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wartburg-college) | Waverly, IA | 66% | $56,201 | $32,908 | $27,000 | 0.48x |

## 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. "Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-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/.