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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  • Iowa
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Payback
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EarningsPlus
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Ranking methodology
#1 in Iowa | #95 in Economics nationally
Economic score: 2.31

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: $16,002

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

Payback: 2.4 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: $57,316

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

EarningsPlus: + $1,262

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.

#2 in Iowa | #154 in Economics nationally

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Economic score: 2.96

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: 2.9 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: $55,645

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

EarningsPlus: - $570

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.

#3 in Iowa | #157 in Economics nationally
Economic score: 2.98

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: 2.9 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: $52,540

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

EarningsPlus: - $1,329

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.

#4 in Iowa | #201 in Economics nationally

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa

Economic score: 3.63

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: $25,182

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

Payback: 3.4 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: $55,487

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

EarningsPlus: - $4,373

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: 11%
Graduation rate: 89%

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.

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Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in economics in Iowa?

Years

3.9 years

The cost of the average bachelor's degree in economics in Iowa is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 3.9 years.

How much do graduates with bachelor's degree in economics earn in Iowa?

Salary

$53,150

The median bachelor's degree in economics graduate earns $53,150 3 years after graduating.

How much does a bachelor's degree in economics cost in Iowa?

Net cost

$20,133

The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in economics is $20,133. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.