Ranking

Best Fine and Studio Arts Colleges in Iowa 2026

25 Iowa colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $9,328
Top earnings 10y: $71,901
Public / Private: 5 / 20

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

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

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

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA · Public

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

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public

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

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

#10

Luther College

Decorah, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

#11

Graceland University-Lamoni

Lamoni, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

#12

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · Private Non-Profit

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

#13

Drake University

Des Moines, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.17
Net price: $29,127
Earnings 10y: $71,901
Acceptance: 63.9%

#14

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.07
Net price: $21,774
Earnings 10y: $52,824
Acceptance: 99.1%

#15

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.03
Net price: $24,691
Earnings 10y: $59,531
Acceptance: 77.3%

#16

Central College

Pella, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.81
Net price: $23,377
Earnings 10y: $54,317
Acceptance: 86.2%

#17

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.70
Net price: $23,907
Earnings 10y: $54,475
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#18

Clarke University

Dubuque, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.66
Net price: $24,479
Earnings 10y: $55,396
Acceptance: 71.8%

#19

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.65
Net price: $23,634
Earnings 10y: $53,460
Acceptance: 79.9%

#20

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.41
Net price: $22,601
Earnings 10y: $48,936
Acceptance: 51.9%

#21

Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.09
Net price: $25,807
Earnings 10y: $52,559
Acceptance: 68.5%

#22

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.81
Net price: $25,907
Earnings 10y: $49,802
Acceptance: 80.4%

#23

Maharishi International University

Fairfield, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.68
Net price: $14,956
Earnings 10y: $27,981
Acceptance: 95.7%

#24

Morningside University

Sioux City, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.43
Net price: $31,320
Earnings 10y: $55,494
Acceptance: 71%

#25

Wartburg College

Waverly, IA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.27
Net price: $32,908
Earnings 10y: $56,201
Acceptance: 75.8%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Iowa schools with positive Fine and Studio Arts program-share evidence, 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 6.60 (5 public, 20 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?

Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, 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?

25 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.