2027 Best Engineering Schools in Iowa
Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their engineering programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Engineering 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 engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Engineering
Our analysis ranked Iowa State University the best school in the country for a degree in engineering. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Iowa State University awarded about 1,420 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $80,285. Students borrow a median of $24,874 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Iowa State University
A rank of #2 makes Cornell College one of the top schools for engineering. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mount Vernon. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell College awarded about 16 engineering degrees 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.
Get the full engineering details for Cornell College
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Loras College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Loras College awarded about 23 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Loras College generally make around $43,117. Typical student debt for the program is $26,528.
More information about a degree in engineering from Loras College
University Of Iowa came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 456 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $73,027 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,171 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Iowa
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 22 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $43,121 in their early career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Des Moines Area Community College
Wartburg College earned the #6 position for engineering this year. Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waverly. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 22 engineering degrees were awarded at Wartburg College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Wartburg College earn a median of $46,918 early in their careers. Wartburg College graduates carry a median of $26,793 in student loans.
More information about a degree in engineering from Wartburg College
Dordt College earned the #7 position for engineering this year. Set in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 engineering degrees were awarded at Dordt College in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Dordt College earn around $54,926 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,812 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Dordt College
Saint Ambrose University landed the #8 spot for engineering this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Saint Ambrose University graduates 61% of students within six years. Saint Ambrose University awarded about 23 engineering degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,996.
More information about a degree in engineering from Saint Ambrose University
More Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 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.
