2027 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Iowa

[General Educational Leadership & Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/educational-leadership-and-administration-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools.
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2027 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general educational leadership & administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools
Leading the list is University Of Northern Iowa, our #1 best value for general educational leadership & administration in Iowa. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $22,635. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $73,847. Set against $22,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mount Mercy University earned it the #2 place for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,878. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $27,709. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,709 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #3 makes Dordt College one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. 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. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Dordt College earn a median of $72,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dordt College admits about 68% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Northwestern College Iowa one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Northwestern College Iowa earn a median of $57,016 early in their careers. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Drake University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Drake University earn a median of $64,311 early in their careers. 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
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 · 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.