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2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

18 Ranked Colleges
1,236 Degrees Awarded
$11,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 3,013 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,427 and $28,543 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,236 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,684 and $18,179 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid.

Top 18 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in Iowa (With Aid)

#1

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeastern Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in West Burlington, Iowa, and it awarded 64 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeastern Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Community College is $7,223 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Southeastern Community College Nursing Report

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 184 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

DMACC also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend DMACC is $10,076 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Nursing Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree nursing students with aid list, Western Iowa Tech Community College has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#4

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 142 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Kirkwood Community College is $10,939 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Kirkwood Community College

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Iowa Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. NICC is a small school located in Calmar, Iowa that handed out 95 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

NICC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeast Iowa Community College is $10,505 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Northeast Iowa Community College

North Iowa Area Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 44 students in 2019-2020.

North Iowa Area Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Iowa Area Community College is $8,409 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Nursing Report

Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Sheldon, Iowa. It awarded 50 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest Iowa Community College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Iowa Community College is $12,125 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid.

Full Northwest Iowa Community College Nursing Report

With a ranking of #8, Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is located in Davenport, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 103 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is $10,650 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Eastern Iowa Community Colleges Nursing Report

#9

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa

Marshalltown Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Marshalltown Community College is a small school located in Marshalltown, Iowa that handed out 21 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Marshalltown Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $7,456 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full Marshalltown Community College Nursing Report

Iowa Central Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a small school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 61 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $10,102 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid.

Full Iowa Central Community College Nursing Report

#11

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It awarded 119 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa Western Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $11,477 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Iowa Western Community College

With a ranking of #12, Indian Hills Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. IHCC is a public institution located in Ottumwa, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IHCC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $7,217 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend IHCC.

Full IHCC Nursing Report

#13

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

Hawkeye Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Waterloo, Iowa. It awarded 73 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree nursing students with aid list, Hawkeye Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hawkeye Community College is $11,495 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Hawkeye Community College

With a ranking of #14, Southwestern Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Creston, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

SWCC also took the #16 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $9,013 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid per year to attend SWCC.

Read full report on Nursing at SWCC

#15

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, Iowa

Iowa Lakes Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Estherville, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Lakes Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $10,509 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend Iowa Lakes Community College.

Read full report on Nursing at Iowa Lakes Community College

#16

St Luke's College

Sioux City, Iowa

St Luke’s College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. St Luke’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 45 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa associate degree nursing students with aid list, St Luke’s College has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Luke’s College is $22,114 for Iowa Associate Degree Nursing students with aid.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Nursing at St Luke’s College

#17

Ellsworth Community College

Iowa Falls, Iowa

With a ranking of #17, Ellsworth Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid list. Ellsworth is a small public school situated in Iowa Falls, Iowa. It awarded 17 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ellsworth, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $11,198 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid per year to attend Ellsworth Community College.

Read full report on Nursing at Ellsworth

Mercy College of Health Sciences landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Iowa For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mercy College of Health Sciences, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $21,989 for iowa associate degree nursing students with aid per year to attend Mercy College of Health Sciences.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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