Ranked #3 in popularity, nursing is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools in Iowa to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 2,901 degrees in nursing to qualified students.
Your choice of nursing school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for nursing schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.
You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list, to help you choose the best school for you.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the nursing degree levels they offer.
Every student pursuing a degree in nursing has to check out University of Iowa. Iowa is a fairly large public university located in the city of Iowa City. A Best Colleges rank of #80 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Iowa is a great university overall.
There were approximately 307 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $82,796 in the first couple years of their career.
Allen College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in nursing. Located in the city of Waterloo, Allen College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
There were roughly 179 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Allen College in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career income of $78,359.
With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.
It's hard to beat Graceland University - Lamoni if you want to pursue a degree in nursing. Graceland Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit university located in the remote area of Lamoni. A Best Colleges rank of #700 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Graceland Lamoni is a great university overall.
There were about 235 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Graceland Lamoni in the most recent year we have data available. Nursing degree recipients from Graceland University - Lamoni receive an earnings boost of around $12,265 above the average earnings of nursing majors.
Any student pursuing a degree in nursing has to take a look at Mercy College of Health Sciences. Located in the medium-sized city of Des Moines, Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
There were roughly 294 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Mercy College of Health Sciences in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients generally make around $65,982 at the beginning of their careers.
Located in the small city of Ames, Iowa State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.
There were approximately 11 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent data year.
Located in the suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #408 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means DMACC is a great college overall.
There were about 178 nursing students who graduated with this degree at DMACC in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the nursing program report average early career income of $59,181.
Located in the medium-sized city of Davenport, St. Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #756 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means St. Ambrose University is a great university overall.
There were approximately 69 nursing students who graduated with this degree at St. Ambrose University in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $66,151 in their early career salary.
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSNProgram Name
At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.
Located in the remote town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #795 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Southeastern Community College is a great college overall.
There were roughly 50 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern Community College in the most recent data year. After graduating, nursing degree recipients generally earn an average of $61,159 in their early careers.
Iowa Central Community College is a small public college located in the town of Fort Dodge. A Best Colleges rank of #498 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa Central Community College is a great college overall.
There were approximately 76 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $56,562 for their early career.
Located in the small city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population. This college ranks 32nd out of 37 colleges for overall quality in the state of Iowa.
There were roughly 89 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $63,214 for their early career.
The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
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 the rest 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).
Your choice of nursing school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for nursing schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.
