2026 Best Engineering Schools in Iowa
Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for engineering students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Engineering in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering education in Iowa.
Top Schools in Engineering
Our analysis ranked Wartburg College the best school in the country for a degree in engineering. Set in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 13 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Wartburg College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. Wartburg College graduates carry a median of $26,793 in student loans.
Get the full engineering details for Wartburg College
Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #2. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 1,489 engineering degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Iowa State University earn around $79,433 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Iowa State University
Cornell College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Mount Vernon. Cornell College graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Cornell College earn around $35,545 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Cornell College
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at University Of Iowa, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 501 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $72,559. Students borrow a median of $25,171 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at University Of Iowa
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 16 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $43,121 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Dordt College came in at #6 for engineering this year. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 74% of students finish within six years. Dordt College awarded about 34 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Dordt College earn around $54,926 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,812.
Read more about the engineering program at Dordt College
Saint Ambrose University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Saint Ambrose University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Saint Ambrose University earn around $73,622 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Ambrose University graduates carry a median of $26,996 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Saint Ambrose University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 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.
