2027 Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools in Iowa
[Organizational Leadership](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/organizational-leadership/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for organizational leadership students.
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2027 Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in organizational leadership, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #1 spot for value among organizational leadership schools in Iowa. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Organizational Leadership graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $64,967 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #2 makes Maharishi University Of Management one of the best values for organizational leadership. Located in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,530. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Maharishi University Of Management generally make around $73,644. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for organizational leadership. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $22,250. Organizational Leadership graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary earned it the #4 place for organizational leadership. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,270. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary generally make around $21,543. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in organizational leadership will find it at Graceland University Lamoni, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Lamoni, Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,848. Students borrow a median of $25,791 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $42,777. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Buena Vista University earned the #6 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $52,307. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
Waldorf College placed #7 among the best values for organizational leadership. Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Forest City. Students from in state pay about $25,978 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $22,100. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $64,605. That is a strong return on a $22,100 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $40,878. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Mount Mercy University generally make around $58,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Upper Iowa University placed #9 among the best values for organizational leadership. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $19,475 in tuition and fees. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $35,664 in student loans. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $58,506. Set against $35,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
Grand View University came in at #10 for value in organizational leadership 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 organizational leadership graduates is $26,941. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Grand View University generally make around $45,180. Set against $26,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa came in at #11 for value in organizational leadership this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $24,892. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $77,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
William Penn University came in at #12 for value in organizational leadership this year. Set in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,750. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $27,000. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $51,027. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #13 for value in organizational leadership this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $35,135. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $70,060. Set against $35,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
