2023 best colleges in Iowa

Students will find both high-quality universities and liberal arts colleges within the Iowa higher education scene, including Iowa State University, home to an on-campus Department of Energy research laboratory. Grinnell College, recognized as a Hidden Ivy, ranks among the Top 25 liberal arts colleges in the country and provides funding for students participating in unpaid or underpaid summer internships. A pioneer in the field of chiropractic medicine, Palmer College of Chiropractic was established in 1897 as the first school of its kind worldwide.

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  • Humanities & Social Sciences
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#1 in Iowa | #89 in Communications nationally

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Economic score: 3.45

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $19,401

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 3.9 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $48,036

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $5,916

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 86%
Graduation rate: 72%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in Iowa | #143 in Communications nationally
Economic score: 4.04

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $16,438

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 4.3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $44,348

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $2,194

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 86%
Graduation rate: 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in Iowa | #235 in Communications nationally
Economic score: 5.25

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $16,002

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 5.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $40,661

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $1,461

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 91%
Graduation rate: 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in Iowa | #285 in Communications nationally

Central College

Pella, Iowa

Economic score: 6.31

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $21,099

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 6.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $40,707

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $1,430

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 75%
Graduation rate: 67%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in Iowa | #339 in Communications nationally

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa

Economic score: 7.56

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $22,765

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 7.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $39,411

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $2,718

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 83%
Graduation rate: 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in Iowa | #468 in Communications nationally

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa

Economic score: 21.60

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $20,541

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 16.9 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $30,024

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $8,250

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 72%
Graduation rate: 55%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in Iowa | #503 in Communications nationally
Economic score: 3,463.28

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $27,592

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 2081.5 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $25,293

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $16,790

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 76%
Graduation rate: 52%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

Explore more schools without data

How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in comms & media studies in Iowa?

Years

6.5 years

The cost of the average bachelor's degree in comms & media studies in Iowa is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 6.5 years.

How much do graduates with bachelor's degree in comms & media studies earn in Iowa?

Salary

$42,165

The median bachelor's degree in comms & media studies graduate earns $42,165 3 years after graduating.

How much does a bachelor's degree in comms & media studies cost in Iowa?

Net cost

$19,349

The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in comms & media studies is $19,349. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.