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2026 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Iowa

[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for ethnic studies students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Iowa

2026 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ethnic studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools

1

Iowa State University
Ames, IA

$10,787 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,495 Avg Student Debt

$63,386 Median Earnings (10yr)

Iowa State University earned the #1 spot for value among ethnic studies schools in Iowa. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for ethnic studies graduates is $23,495. Ethnic Studies graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $53,900 early in their careers. Set against $23,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.

2

University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

$11,283 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,500 Avg Student Debt

$64,762 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at University Of Iowa, which ranked #2. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Ethnic Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $34,216 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.

View All Ethnic Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 1 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.