Best colleges for communications and journalism in Iowa
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in communication, journalism, or a related field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for communications and journalism in Iowa25 schools
25 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in communication and journalism, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit#3 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 2Tie
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 2Tie
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 4
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 5
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 6
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 7
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 8
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 9
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 10
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 11
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 12
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 13
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 14
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 15
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 16
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 17
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 18
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 19
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 20
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 21
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit#26 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 22
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 23
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit#28 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 24
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 25
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA · Private for-profitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 42%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake University | $29,127 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| University of Iowa | $22,531 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Iowa State University | $18,589 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| Dordt University | $25,807 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| Luther College | $23,097 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Coe College | $18,745 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $15,901 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Central College | $23,377 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Buena Vista University | $18,846 | $25,000 | $49,156 | 62% |
| Northwestern College | $25,907 | $23,249 | $49,802 | 66% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Mount Mercy University | $20,168 | $23,699 | $60,787 | 58% |
| Briar Cliff University | $23,907 | $23,250 | $54,475 | 48% |
| Clarke University | $24,479 | $26,717 | $55,396 | 56% |
| Grand View University | $21,774 | $22,500 | $52,824 | 54% |
| Morningside University | $31,320 | $26,028 | $55,494 | 50% |
| University of Dubuque | $23,386 | $25,750 | $51,190 | 40% |
| William Penn University | $22,601 | $22,415 | $48,936 | 33% |
| Maharishi International University | $14,956 | $24,781 | $27,981 | 50% |
| Upper Iowa University | $20,942 | $25,000 | $52,766 | 34% |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | $18,504 | $21,212 | $47,361 | 42% |
| Waldorf University | $19,693 | $18,752 | $51,165 | 21% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 21
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 18
- California 70
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 19
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 39
- Georgia 38
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 39
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 18
- Maine 6
- Maryland 18
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 36
- Minnesota 29
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 38
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 10
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 4
- New York 82
- North Carolina 42
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 90
- Puerto Rico 12
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 6
- Tennessee 29
- Texas 64
- Utah 8
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 34
- Washington 19
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 27