2027 Best Value Science Education Schools in Iowa
[Science Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/science-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for science education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Science Education Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the science education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Science Education Schools
For return on investment in science education, no school beat Iowa State University this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Science Education graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $47,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Buena Vista University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value science education schools. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,008 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $44,780. That is a strong return on a $29,008 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Iowa one of the best values for science education. 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 science education graduates is $25,000. Early-career science education graduates make about $46,908. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in science education will find it at Upper Iowa University, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the science education program here. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $51,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at William Penn University earned it the #5 place for science education. Located in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. Science Education graduates carry a median of $28,341 in student loans. Science Education graduates of William Penn University earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,341 median debt. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Dubuque landed the #6 spot for science education value this year. University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Students from in state pay about $42,095 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $27,204. Early-career science education graduates make about $53,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Ambrose University placed #7 among the best values for science education. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $57,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
Morningside College earned the #8 position for value in science education this year. Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,519. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $28,000. Science Education graduates of Morningside College earn a median of $52,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
More Science Education Rankings
View All Science Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
