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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education in Iowa (With Aid)

24 Ranked Colleges
1,931 Degrees Awarded
$22,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Education is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 4th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 310,601 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 3,578 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,396 and $29,131 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,931 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Education in Iowa (With Aid)

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 573 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #1 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,620 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Education Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 268 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $15,496 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Iowa State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Iowa State University

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 178 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid list, Iowa has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $19,145 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Education Report

#4

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Simpson College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid. Simpson College is a small school located in Indianola, Iowa that handed out 21 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid list, Simpson College has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Simpson College is $19,151 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Simpson College Education Report

#5

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Buena Vista University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

BVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Buena Vista University is $17,544 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Education at BVU

#6

Central College

Pella, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Pella, Iowa, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Central also took the #7 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central is $23,269 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Central College

#7

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Wartburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waverly, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wartburg, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $21,787 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Wartburg College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Wartburg College

#8

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#17 in overall quality

Grand View University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

Grand View University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand View University is $19,826 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at Grand View University

#9

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Northwestern College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Northwestern College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NWC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NWC is $22,968 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Northwestern College

#10

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Loras College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

Loras also made our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Loras is $20,676 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Loras College

#11

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Luther College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Decorah, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Luther did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $23,620 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Luther College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Luther College

#12

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

Coe College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Coe College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Coe, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,955 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid per year to attend Coe College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Coe College

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Lamoni, Iowa, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Graceland University - Lamoni is $17,650 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read more about Education at Graceland University - Lamoni

#14

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa
#14 in overall quality

Morningside College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Morningside College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 52 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Morningside also took the #14 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $21,337 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Morningside College.

Full Morningside Education Report

#15

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

Dordt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Dordt University is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 bachelors’s education degrees to qualified students.

Dordt also took the #8 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dordt University is $25,102 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt University Education Report

#16

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

Cornell College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cornell College is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Iowa that handed out 25 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $26,901 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Cornell College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Education at Cornell College

#17

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
#19 in overall quality

Upper Iowa University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIU is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 142 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Upper Iowa University is $21,624 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at UIU

#18

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa
#21 in overall quality

Briar Cliff University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid list, Briar Cliff has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Briar Cliff is $20,604 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

Full Briar Cliff University Education Report

#19

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Ambrose University, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Ambrose University is $26,204 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

Read full report on Education at St. Ambrose University

#19

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Drake University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified bachelors’s education students in 2019-2020.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drake University is $29,432 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Education at Drake

#21

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#18 in overall quality

Mount Mercy University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mount Mercy, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mount Mercy University is $20,857 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Education at Mount Mercy

#22

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
#20 in overall quality

University of Dubuque landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UD, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $26,748 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend University of Dubuque.

Read more about Education at University of Dubuque

#23

Clarke University

Dubuque, Iowa
#24 in overall quality

Clarke University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Clarke is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 20 bachelors’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid list, Clarke has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Clarke University is $34,204 for iowa bachelor’s degree education students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Clarke University Education Report

#24

Iowa Wesleyan University

Mount Pleasant, Iowa
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Iowa Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Mount Pleasant, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s education degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa Wesleyan, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $26,312 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Education students with aid per year to attend Iowa Wesleyan.

Read full report on Education at Iowa Wesleyan

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Horadrim.

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