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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Nursing in Iowa

36 Ranked Colleges
3,004 Degrees Awarded
$31,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $70,916 and had an average of $25,426 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 3,004 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,973 and $28,803 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa” ranking analyzed 36 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular nursing programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

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The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa nursing students.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mercy College of Health Sciences. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 323 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Mercy College of Health Sciences Nursing Report

2
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 288 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Nursing Report

3

Out of the 36 schools in the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 272 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Full Graceland University - Lamoni Nursing Report

4
Allen College crest
Allen College
Waterloo, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Allen College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Allen College is located in Waterloo, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 207 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Allen College Nursing Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 166 students in 2020-2021.

Full DMACC Nursing Report

6
Iowa Western Community College crest
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Iowa Western Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it awarded 146 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at Iowa Western Community College

7
Mount Mercy crest
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #7. Mount Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 111 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mount Mercy University Nursing Report

7

Upper Iowa University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. This small school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 111 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full UIU Nursing Report

9
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 98 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Kirkwood Community College

10

With a ranking of #10, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Saint Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Ambrose University Nursing Report

10

Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. Northeast Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 90 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Northeast Iowa Community College

12

Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. This medium-sized school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 86 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Eastern Iowa Community College District Nursing Report

13

Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 81 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Western Iowa Tech Community College

14
Briar Cliff crest
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Briar Cliff University is a small school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 88 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Briar Cliff

15
St Luke's College crest
St Luke's College
Sioux City, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, St Luke’s College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. St Luke’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 75 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at St Luke’s College

15

Iowa Central Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Iowa Central Community College is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Full Iowa Central Community College Nursing Report

17
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa

Morningside College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 79 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Morningside Nursing Report

18
Southeastern Community College crest
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, Iowa

With a ranking of #18, Southeastern Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Southeastern Community College is a small public school situated in West Burlington, Iowa. It awarded 64 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Southeastern Community College

19
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 51 students in 2020-2021.

Full Grand View University Nursing Report

20

North Iowa Area Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Mason City, Iowa, this small public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at North Iowa Area Community College

21

Hawkeye Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 69 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Hawkeye Community College Nursing Report

22

Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #22. SWCC is a small school located in Creston, Iowa that handed out 40 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SWCC Nursing Report

23
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

With a ranking of #23, Luther College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. Luther is a small school located in Decorah, Iowa that handed out 39 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Luther

24

Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa ranking. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small school located in Sheldon, Iowa that handed out 38 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Northwest Iowa Community College

25
Clarke crest
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Nursing Major in Iowa list. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 36 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate 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.

Full Clarke University Nursing Report

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References

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