2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Iowa

[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for curriculum & instruction students.
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2027 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
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat University Of Northern Iowa this year. 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. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $46,054. Set against $22,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Buena Vista University earned it the #2 place for curriculum & instruction. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $44,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,317 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
Upper Iowa University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $34,059. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $51,441. Set against $34,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dordt College earned it the #4 place for curriculum & instruction. Set in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Dordt College generally make around $54,926. Set against $21,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
A rank of #5 makes Drake University one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. 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. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $58,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.