Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Iowa
Colleges ranked by what former students earn ten years after enrolling, compared with four years of net price.
Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Iowa16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by earnings for the price.
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).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by earnings divided by four years of net price, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- Earnings are 0.9× the four-year net price
- Earnings $62,830 ten years out
- 1Tie
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.9× the four-year net price
- Earnings $55,177 ten years out
- 1Tie
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.9× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,386 ten years out
- 4Tie
Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit#2 in Iowa
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $42,631 ten years out
- 4Tie
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $61,033 ten years out
- 4Tie
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $57,125 ten years out
- 7Tie
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $64,762 ten years out
- 7Tie
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $58,289 ten years out
- 7Tie
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $59,274 ten years out
- 10Tie
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $59,850 ten years out
- 10Tie
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit#3 in Iowa
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $71,901 ten years out
- 10Tie
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $59,531 ten years out
- 10Tie
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $54,317 ten years out
- 10Tie
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $53,460 ten years out
- 15
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $52,559 ten years out
- 16
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Earnings are 0.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $56,201 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% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $15,901 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Iowa State University | $18,589 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| Emmaus Bible College | $13,186 | $15,750 | $42,631 | 83% |
| St. Luke's College | $19,820 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| Coe College | $18,745 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| University of Iowa | $22,531 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| Luther College | $23,097 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Drake University | $29,127 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Central College | $23,377 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Cornell College | $23,634 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| Dordt University | $25,807 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
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 62
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 77
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15