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2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Iowa

[General Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/general-journalism/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general journalism students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Journalism Schools in Iowa

2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Journalism Schools

1

Iowa State University
Ames, IA

$10,787 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,250 Avg Student Debt

$63,386 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Iowa State University the best value for a degree in general journalism in Iowa. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $23,250. General Journalism graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $39,347 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.

2

University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

$11,283 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,907 Avg Student Debt

$64,762 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #2 place for general journalism. 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. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,907 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $54,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.

View All General Journalism Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.