2026 Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools in Iowa
[Biological & Biomedical Sciences](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biological & biomedical sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools to find the best return on investment for biological & biomedical sciences students.
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2026 Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the biological & biomedical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Biological & Biomedical Sciences Schools
Grinnell College tops our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools in Iowa. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,196. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,586 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $38,531. Set against $16,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for biological & biomedical sciences. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $36,286. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for biological & biomedical sciences. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,088 in student loans. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $33,266. That is a strong return on a $22,088 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Coe College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,666. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Coe College generally make around $41,045. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coe College admits about 64% of applicants.
Clarke University landed the #6 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,910. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $26,895. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Clarke University generally make around $53,450. Set against $26,895 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Buena Vista University came in at #7 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,798. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $27,000. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $30,682. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Iowa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,775 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $30,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Grand View University came in at #9 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,762. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $26,000. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $43,237 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand View University admits about 99% of applicants.
William Penn University landed the #10 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oskaloosa. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $36,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Central College landed the #11 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. Set in the town of Pella, Central College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,988. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Central College generally make around $26,933. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Wartburg College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waverly. In-state tuition and fees average $26,250. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Wartburg College earn a median of $34,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Wartburg College admits about 76% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University earned the #13 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Saint Ambrose University generally make around $30,825. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Morningside College earned the #14 position for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,519. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the biological & biomedical sciences program here. Early-career biological & biomedical sciences graduates make about $32,620. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Iowa landed the #15 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cornell College landed the #16 spot for biological & biomedical sciences value this year. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mount Vernon. Students from in state pay about $52,660 in tuition and fees. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Cornell College generally make around $39,164. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Dordt College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value biological & biomedical sciences schools. Set in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,050. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $21,812. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Dordt College generally make around $54,926. Set against $21,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dordt College admits about 68% of applicants.
Luther College came in at #18 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Set in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for biological & biomedical sciences graduates is $27,000. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates of Luther College earn a median of $29,359 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University came in at #19 for value in biological & biomedical sciences this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Biological & Biomedical Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,566 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biological & biomedical sciences degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $41,226. Set against $20,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
More Biological & Biomedical Sciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
