2027 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Iowa

[Educational Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value educational administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational Administration Schools
University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2027 list of the best value educational administration schools in Iowa. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $73,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
Mount Mercy University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in educational administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,878. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $27,709. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $50,431. Set against $27,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in educational administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $24,463. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $67,785. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in educational administration will find it at Dordt College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,050. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $21,812. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $72,314. That is a strong return on a $21,812 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwestern College Iowa earned it the #5 place for educational administration. Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $25,415. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $57,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern College Iowa admits about 80% of applicants.
Drake University placed #6 among the best values for educational administration. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $22,273. Educational Administration graduates of Drake University earn a median of $64,311 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.