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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Education in Iowa

39 Ranked Colleges
3,517 Degrees Awarded
$27,700 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 327,871 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $46,202 and had an average of $24,437 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 3,517 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,708 and $32,390 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in education. That schools that top this list have a program in education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa education students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Education in Iowa

1
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Morningside College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 314 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Morningside Education Report

2
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Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Orange City, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 182 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at NWC

3
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Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Buena Vista University landed the #3 spot on the list. Storm Lake, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 246 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Education at Buena Vista University

4
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Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dordt University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 133 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Dordt University

5
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University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 674 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNI Education Report

6
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Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, Drake University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 267 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Education at Drake University

7
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Iowa Wesleyan University
Mount Pleasant, Iowa

With a ranking of #7, Iowa Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Education at Iowa Wesleyan

8
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William Penn University
Oskaloosa, Iowa

William Penn University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. This small school is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and it awarded 32 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Education at William Penn University

9
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Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #9, Loras College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Loras College Education Report

10
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Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #10. Upper Iowa University is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 182 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Upper Iowa University Education Report

11
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Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

With a ranking of #11, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Located in Waverly, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 36 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Wartburg

12

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. This small school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 7 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

13
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Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13. Clarke University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Education at Clarke

14
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Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, Iowa

Emmaus Bible College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Emmaus Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Education at Emmaus Bible College

15
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Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking. Mount Mercy is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

Full Mount Mercy University Education Report

16

With a ranking of #16, Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Graceland University - Lamoni is located in Lamoni, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Education at Graceland University - Lamoni

17
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Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking. Grand View University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Des Moines, Iowa. It awarded 45 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Education at Grand View University

18
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Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #18. Simpson College is a small school located in Indianola, Iowa that handed out 26 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Simpson College

19
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Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 19 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.

Full Briar Cliff Education Report

20

Iowa State University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 447 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Iowa State University Education Report

21
Central crest
Central College
Pella, Iowa

With a ranking of #21, Central College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Pella, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Central College

22
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University of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa

With a ranking of #22, University of Dubuque did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. University of Dubuque is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s education degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Education at University of Dubuque

23
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Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Saint Ambrose University

24
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

With a ranking of #24, Cornell College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It awarded 14 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Cornell College Education Report

25
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in Iowa list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 395 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa Education Report

Notes and References

References

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