Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Iowa
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Iowa15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- Pays back in about 4.9 years
- Earnings $62,830 ten years out
- 1Tie
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Pays back in about 4.9 years
- Earnings $63,386 ten years out
- 1Tie
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit#3 in Iowa
- Pays back in about 4.9 years
- Earnings $71,901 ten years out
- 4
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- Pays back in about 5.5 years
- Earnings $64,762 ten years out
- 5
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Pays back in about 6.3 years
- Earnings $61,033 ten years out
- 6Tie
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- Pays back in about 8.0 years
- Earnings $59,274 ten years out
- 6Tie
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Pays back in about 8.0 years
- Earnings $59,850 ten years out
- 8
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Pays back in about 8.3 years
- Earnings $58,289 ten years out
- 9
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Pays back in about 8.6 years
- Earnings $57,125 ten years out
- 10
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 8.8 years
- Earnings $59,531 ten years out
- 11
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Pays back in about 9.3 years
- Earnings $55,177 ten years out
- 12
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 15.7 years
- Earnings $54,317 ten years out
- 13
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 16.8 years
- Earnings $56,201 ten years out
- 14
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 18.5 years
- Earnings $53,460 ten years out
- 15
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Pays back in about 24.6 years
- Earnings $52,559 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College | $17,648 | $17,500 | $62,830 | 88% |
| Iowa State University | $18,589 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| Drake University | $29,127 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| University of Iowa | $22,531 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| St. Luke's College | $19,820 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| Luther College | $23,097 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Coe College | $18,745 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $15,901 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Central College | $23,377 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Cornell College | $23,634 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| Dordt University | $25,807 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
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 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13