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Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa

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2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

18 Schools Ranked
$34,809 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Teaching Degree Search has created its Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 18 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best value programs for teaching students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Teaching Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
674 Total Awards
$19,753 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found University of Northern Iowa to be the best value school for teaching students in Iowa. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 674 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UNI are $19,753 a year. On average, students take out $22,939 in loans while pursuing 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. Once they receive their degree, UNI graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,810 during the early year of their career.

UNI also took the #3 spot in our Best Teaching Schools in Iowa rankings.

Full University of Northern Iowa Report

#2

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
182 Total Awards
$33,590 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Northwestern College is a great place for teaching students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Located in Orange City, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 182 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

NWC undergraduate students pay an average of $33,590 in tuition and fees each year. After graduating from NWC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,021 during the early years of their career.

NWC also took the #1 spot in our Best Teaching Schools in Iowa rankings.

Read full report on Northwestern College

#3

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa
314 Total Awards
$35,270 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Morningside College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa list. Morningside College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 314 degrees in 2020-2021.

Morningside undergraduate students pay an average of $35,270 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $26,099 in loans while pursuing 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.After graduating from Morningside, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,189 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Morningside College

#4

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa
447 Total Awards
$25,446 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 18 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Ames, Iowa, the large public school awarded 447 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Iowa State are $25,446 per year. On average, students take out $23,598 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $257 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Iowa State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,142 during the early year of their career.

Iowa State also made our Best Teaching Schools in Iowa list, coming in at #5.

Read full report on Iowa State University

#5

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
395 Total Awards
$31,905 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Iowa is a great place for teaching students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 395 degrees to qualified students.

Iowa undergraduate students pay an average of $31,905 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,563 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $379. During the early years of their career, Iowa graduates make an average of $50,430 annually.

Read full report on University of Iowa

#6

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
267 Total Awards
$45,912 Average Tuition & Fees

Drake University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Drake is located in Des Moines, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 267 degrees to qualified students.

Drake undergraduate students pay an average of $45,912 in tuition and fees each year. 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.After graduating from Drake, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,927 during the early years of their career.

Drake did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Teaching Schools in Iowa list.

Full Drake University Report

#7

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
246 Total Awards
$37,518 Average Tuition & Fees

Buena Vista University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa list. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 246 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BVU are $37,518 a year. On average, students take out $31,426 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from BVU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,214 during the early years of their career.

Full Buena Vista University Report

#8

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
133 Total Awards
$33,590 Average Tuition & Fees

Dordt University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #8 on the list. Dordt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux Center, Iowa that handed out 133 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Dordt are $33,590 a year. 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 More…

#9

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
26 Total Awards
$44,030 Average Tuition & Fees

Simpson College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #9 on the list. Indianola, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Simpson College are $44,030 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $26,958 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Simpson College graduates make an average of $41,402 annually.

Read full report on Simpson College

#10

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
50 Total Awards
$35,268 Average Tuition & Fees

Loras College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa list. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 degrees to qualified students.

Loras undergraduate students pay an average of $35,268 in tuition and fees each year. 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

#11

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
45 Total Awards
$30,954 Average Tuition & Fees

Grand View University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa list. Grand View University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Des Moines, Iowa. It awarded 45 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Grand View University are $30,954 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,831 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $196, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Grand View University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,475 during the early year of their career.

Read More…

#12

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
53 Total Awards
$36,540 Average Tuition & Fees

Mount Mercy University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa ranking. Mount Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mount Mercy are $36,540 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $29,114 in student debt by the time they complete 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. During the early years of their career, Mount Mercy graduates make an average of $45,158 annually.

Full Mount Mercy University Report

#13

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
41 Total Awards
$33,570 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Ambrose University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa list. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

St. Ambrose University undergraduate students pay an average of $33,570 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $27,244 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 $401 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, St. Ambrose University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,094 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on Saint Ambrose University

#14

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
182 Total Awards
$33,609 Average Tuition & Fees

Upper Iowa University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Fayette, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 182 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UIU are $33,609 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $34,092 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, UIU graduates make an average of $45,288 annually.

Full Upper Iowa University Report

#15

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa
19 Total Awards
$33,998 Average Tuition & Fees

Briar Cliff University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 19 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Briar Cliff are $33,998 per year. On average, students take out $23,123 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Briar Cliff graduates make an average of $46,310 annually.

Read full report on Briar Cliff University

#16

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, Iowa
32 Total Awards
$27,200 Average Tuition & Fees

William Penn University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value teaching programs. William Penn University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 degrees in 2020-2021.

William Penn University undergraduate students pay an average of $27,200 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,765 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $187. Once they receive their degree, William Penn University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,171 during the early year of their career.

Full William Penn University Report

#17

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
36 Total Awards
$47,500 Average Tuition & Fees

Wartburg College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Teaching Schools in Iowa list. Wartburg is located in Waverly, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 degrees to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wartburg are $47,500 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $24,201 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $313.After graduating from Wartburg, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,976 during the early years of their career.

Wartburg also made our Best Teaching Schools in Iowa list, coming in at #4.

Read More…

#18

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
27 Total Awards
$36,010 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Dubuque did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for teaching students. It came in at #18 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 27 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UD are $36,010 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,068 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from UD, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,274 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Dubuque Report

Best Value 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

  • 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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