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Best Teaching Schools in Iowa

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2023 Best Teaching Schools in Iowa

18 Schools Ranked
$42,838 Average Earnings
$26,017 Avg Student Debt

Today's teaching students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

The Best Teaching Schools in Iowa ranking is one of many tools that Teaching Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 18 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best programs for teaching students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Teaching Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
$42,021 Average Earnings

Our 2023 rankings named Northwestern College the best school in Iowa for teaching students working on their degree.

After graduating from NWC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,021 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

#2

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
$46,927 Average Earnings
$20,572 Avg Student Debt

The excellent programs at Drake University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best teaching schools in Iowa.

On average, students take out $20,572 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $432, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Drake graduates make an average of $46,927 annually.

Full Drake University Report

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
$40,810 Average Earnings
$22,939 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 18 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the # 3 spot on the list.

Degree recipients from UNI accumulate an average of $22,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $172 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,810 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Northern Iowa

#4

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
$40,976 Average Earnings
$24,201 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Wartburg College is a great place for teaching students.

On average, students take out $24,201 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $313 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Wartburg graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,976 during the early year of their career.

Full Wartburg College Report

#5

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa
$48,142 Average Earnings
$23,598 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Iowa State University is a great place for teaching students.

Degree recipients from Iowa State accumulate an average of $23,598 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $257, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Iowa State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,142 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Iowa State University

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
$50,430 Average Earnings
$23,563 Avg Student Debt

University of Iowa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #6 on the list.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,563 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $379, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Iowa graduates make an average of $50,430 annually.

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#7

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
$41,402 Average Earnings
$26,958 Avg Student Debt

Simpson College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in Iowa ranking.

On average, students take out $26,958 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Simpson College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,402 during the early year of their career.

Read More…

#8

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
$39,708 Average Earnings
$21,552 Avg Student Debt

Loras College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.

On average, students take out $21,552 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Loras, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,708 during the early years of their career.

Full Loras College Report

#9

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
$38,214 Average Earnings
$31,426 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #9, Buena Vista University did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.

On average, students take out $31,426 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BVU graduates make an average of $38,214 annually.

Read More…

#10

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
$48,809 Average Earnings

Dordt University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Teaching Schools in Iowa list.

After graduating from Dordt, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,809 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Dordt University

#11

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
$45,158 Average Earnings
$29,114 Avg Student Debt

Mount Mercy University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.

On average, students take out $29,114 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $289, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Mount Mercy, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,158 during the early years of their career.

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#12

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
$50,094 Average Earnings
$27,244 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #12, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,244 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $401. During the early years of their career, St. Ambrose University graduates make an average of $50,094 annually.

Read full report on Saint Ambrose University

#13

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
$39,475 Average Earnings
$29,831 Avg Student Debt

Grand View University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.

On average, students take out $29,831 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $196. During the early years of their career, Grand View University graduates make an average of $39,475 annually.

Full Grand View University Report

#14

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa
$46,310 Average Earnings
$23,123 Avg Student Debt

Briar Cliff University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Teaching Schools in Iowa list.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,123 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Briar Cliff graduates make an average of $46,310 annually.

Read full report on Briar Cliff University

#15

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa
$51,189 Average Earnings
$26,099 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #15, Morningside College did quite well on this year’s best schools for teaching students working.

Degree recipients from Morningside accumulate an average of $26,099 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $208, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Morningside graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,189 during the early year of their career.

Full Morningside College Report

#16

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
$39,274 Average Earnings
$28,068 Avg Student Debt

University of Dubuque landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best teaching programs.

Degree recipients from UD accumulate an average of $28,068 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, UD graduates make an average of $39,274 annually.

Full University of Dubuque Report

#17

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
$45,288 Average Earnings
$34,092 Avg Student Debt

Upper Iowa University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Teaching Schools in Iowa ranking.

On average, students take out $34,092 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from UIU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,288 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Upper Iowa University

#18

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa
$40,171 Average Earnings
$32,765 Avg Student Debt

William Penn University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for teaching students. It came in at #18 on the list.

On average, students take out $32,765 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $187.After graduating from William Penn University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,171 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on William Penn University

Best Teaching Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 18 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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