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2027 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in Iowa

[Adult & Continuing Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-development-levels-methods/adult-continuing-education/) 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.

For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for adult & continuing education students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in Iowa

2027 Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in adult & continuing education, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Schools

1

Waldorf College
Forest City, IA

$25,978 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,622 Avg Student Debt

$51,165 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Waldorf College the best value for a degree in adult & continuing education in Iowa. Located in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,978 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,622 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Early-career adult & continuing education graduates make about $63,346. That is a strong return on a $24,622 median debt. Waldorf College admits about 77% of applicants.

2

Drake University
Des Moines, IA

$51,960 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$71,901 Median Earnings (10yr)

Drake University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult & continuing education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the adult & continuing education program here. Soon after graduation, adult & continuing education degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $46,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.

View All Adult & Continuing Education Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.