Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Iowa
Colleges ranked by instructional spending for each full-time-equivalent student.
Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Iowa16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by teaching spending per student.
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 instructional spending per full-time-equivalent student from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by instructional spending per student, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- $32,882 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 2
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- $17,234 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 3
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- $15,714 on teaching per student
- 16 students per faculty member
- 4
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit#3 in Iowa
- $13,803 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 5
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $13,213 on teaching per student
- 14 students per faculty member
- 6
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $13,107 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 7
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- $12,667 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 8
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- $12,347 on teaching per student
- 18 students per faculty member
- 9
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $11,705 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 10
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- $11,281 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 11
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- $11,202 on teaching per student
- 14 students per faculty member
- 12
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- $11,070 on teaching per student
- 18 students per faculty member
- 13
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- $10,383 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 14
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $10,199 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 15
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- $8,934 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 16
Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit#2 in Iowa
- $8,352 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College | About $18,000 | $17,500 | $62,830 | 88% |
| Luther College | About $23,000 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| University of Iowa | About $23,000 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Drake University | About $29,000 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| Cornell College | About $24,000 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| Central College | About $23,000 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Simpson College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| Iowa State University | About $19,000 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| Saint Ambrose University | About $25,000 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| St. Luke's College | About $20,000 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| Dordt University | About $26,000 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| University of Northern Iowa | About $16,000 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Coe College | About $19,000 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| Wartburg College | About $33,000 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Loras College | About $21,000 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Emmaus Bible College | About $13,000 | $15,750 | $42,631 | 83% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 64
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 20
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15