2026 Best Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in Iowa

Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Schools in Iowa

Best Schools for Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor in Iowa

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor

1

University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

17 Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Degrees Awarded

$41,267 Median Starting Salary

University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2026 ranking of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/esl Language Instructor graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $41,267 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,250. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program report for University Of Northern Iowa

2

Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

12 Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Degrees Awarded

$44,780 Median Starting Salary

Buena Vista University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Storm Lake. Buena Vista University graduates 62% of students within six years. Buena Vista University awarded about 12 teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor degree from Buena Vista University earn around $44,780 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete this degree. See the full teaching english as a second or foreign language/esl language instructor program report for Buena Vista University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.

• 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.