2027 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in Iowa
[Medical/Clinical Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/medical-clinical-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for medical/clinical assistant students.
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2027 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the medical/clinical assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked Western Iowa Tech Community College the best value for a degree in medical/clinical assistant in Iowa. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $37,483. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa Central Community College earned it the #2 place for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Students borrow a median of $15,560 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $34,281. That is a strong return on a $15,560 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medical/clinical assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $20,716. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $39,614 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medical/clinical assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $18,616 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $33,912. Set against $18,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Iowa Area Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,653, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $44,455 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington placed #6 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,420, with out-of-state students paying around $6,570. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $14,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $36,202. Set against $14,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #7 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $15,995. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Iowa Western Community College placed #8 among the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,080. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $15,153. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. That is a strong return on a $15,153 median debt.
Brown Mackie College Quad Cities came in at #9 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Brown Mackie College Quad Cities is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Students borrow a median of $12,554 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Brown Mackie College Quad Cities earn a median of $29,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,554 median debt.
Mercy College Of Health Sciences landed the #10 spot for medical/clinical assistant value this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Mercy College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,664. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $32,929. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Mercy College Of Health Sciences generally make around $62,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercy College Of Health Sciences admits about 100% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
