2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Iowa
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Buena Vista University earned the #1 spot for value among curriculum & instruction schools in Iowa. 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. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $44,780 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dordt College earned it the #2 place for curriculum & instruction. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,050. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Dordt College earn a median of $54,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in curriculum & instruction will find it at Drake University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Drake University earn a median of $58,730 early in their careers. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
