Ranking

Best Colleges in Iowa by ROI 2026

The top-value Iowa colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $8,059
Top earnings 10y: $64,762
Public / Private: 13 / 12

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, IA · Public

ROI score: 12.72
Net price: $8,059
Earnings 10y: $41,010
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, IA · Public

ROI score: 11.27
Net price: $9,328
Earnings 10y: $42,046
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA · Public

ROI score: 11.10
Net price: $9,649
Earnings 10y: $42,849
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Public

ROI score: 10.57
Net price: $9,705
Earnings 10y: $41,016
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Indian Hills Community College

Ottumwa, IA · Public

ROI score: 9.47
Net price: $10,693
Earnings 10y: $40,507
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Northeast Iowa Community College

Calmar, IA · Public

ROI score: 9.16
Net price: $11,272
Earnings 10y: $41,306
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.90
Net price: $17,648
Earnings 10y: $62,830
Acceptance: 14.5%

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, IA · Public

ROI score: 8.86
Net price: $11,451
Earnings 10y: $40,562
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

ROI score: 8.68
Net price: $15,901
Earnings 10y: $55,177
Acceptance: 92.7%

#10

Northwest Iowa Community College

Sheldon, IA · Public

ROI score: 8.58
Net price: $14,800
Earnings 10y: $50,776
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

ROI score: 8.52
Net price: $18,589
Earnings 10y: $63,386
Acceptance: 88.7%

#12

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, IA · Public

ROI score: 7.73
Net price: $13,933
Earnings 10y: $43,108
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

St Luke's College

Sioux City, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.70
Net price: $19,820
Earnings 10y: $61,033
Acceptance: 80%

#14

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.62
Net price: $18,745
Earnings 10y: $57,125
Acceptance: 64%

#15

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.54
Net price: $20,168
Earnings 10y: $60,787
Acceptance: 82.5%

#16

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA · Public

ROI score: 7.31
Net price: $14,629
Earnings 10y: $42,793
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#17

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public

ROI score: 7.19
Net price: $22,531
Earnings 10y: $64,762
Acceptance: 83.6%

#18

Loras College

Dubuque, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.03
Net price: $20,716
Earnings 10y: $58,289
Acceptance: 99.9%

#19

Simpson College

Indianola, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.76
Net price: $21,936
Earnings 10y: $59,274
Acceptance: 86.2%

#20

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.52
Net price: $18,846
Earnings 10y: $49,156
Acceptance: 77.6%

#21

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.50
Net price: $19,693
Earnings 10y: $51,165
Acceptance: 77%

#22

Luther College

Decorah, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.48
Net price: $23,097
Earnings 10y: $59,850
Acceptance: 71.5%

#23

Graceland University-Lamoni

Lamoni, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.40
Net price: $18,504
Earnings 10y: $47,361
Acceptance: 80.8%

#24

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.30
Net price: $20,942
Earnings 10y: $52,766
Acceptance: 96.5%

#25

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Ankeny, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.24
Net price: $16,282
Earnings 10y: $40,650
Acceptance: 67.5%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Iowa colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.21 (13 public, 12 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, IA tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Iowa colleges are in this list?

40 Iowa colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.