College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa

32 Ranked Colleges
2,545 Degrees Awarded
$14,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools 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 “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 266,651 registered nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country.

Across Iowa, there were 2,545 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking, we looked at 32 colleges that offer a degree in registered nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality registered nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the registered 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.

More Ways to Rank Registered Nursing Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Registered Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Registered Nursing in Iowa

1
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 #1 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s registered nursing degrees to 215 students in 2020-2021.

Iowa also took the #1 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $19,401 for iowa registered nursing students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Iowa

2

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Des Moines Area Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school handed out 166 degrees to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our iowa registered nursing students list, DMACC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $9,557 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Des Moines Area Community College.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Des Moines Area Community College

3
Allen College crest
Allen College
Waterloo, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Allen College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. This small school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 129 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our iowa registered nursing students list, Allen College has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 Registered Nursing Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 81 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Western Iowa Tech Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $8,309 for iowa registered nursing students per year to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Registered Nursing Report

5
Iowa Western Community College crest
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa Western Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It awarded 146 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Western Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $11,682 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Iowa Western Community College.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Iowa Western Community College

6

Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Sheldon, Iowa, and it awarded 38 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwest Iowa Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $10,831 for iowa registered nursing students per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.

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 Registered Nursing at Northwest Iowa Community College

7

Northeast Iowa Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. This small school is located in Calmar, Iowa, and it awarded 90 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NICC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NICC is $8,097 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at NICC

8

Indian Hills Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. IHCC is a public institution located in Ottumwa, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

IHCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $8,242 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend IHCC.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Indian Hills Community College

9

With a ranking of #9, Eastern Iowa Community College District did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a medium-sized public school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 86 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is $10,227 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Eastern Iowa Community College District

10
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 98 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our iowa registered nursing students list, Kirkwood Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $9,906 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Kirkwood Community College

11

Iowa Central Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and it awarded 75 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Central Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $9,695 for iowa registered nursing students per year to attend Iowa Central Community College.

Full Iowa Central Community College Registered Nursing Report

12
Southeastern Community College crest
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, Iowa

Southeastern Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Southeastern Community College is a public institution located in West Burlington, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Southeastern Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $7,005 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Southeastern Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Southeastern Community College

13

North Iowa Area Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Located in Mason City, Iowa, this small public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for North Iowa Area Community College is $8,480 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Registered Nursing Report

14

With a ranking of #14, Mercy College of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 323 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our iowa registered nursing students list, Mercy College of Health Sciences has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $23,737 for iowa registered nursing students per year to attend Mercy College of Health Sciences.

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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences

15

Hawkeye Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 69 degrees to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

Hawkeye Community College also made our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $11,532 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Hawkeye Community College.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Hawkeye Community College

16
St Luke's College crest
St Luke's College
Sioux City, Iowa

St Luke’s College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 75 diplomas to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St Luke’s College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Luke’s College is $16,930 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. The impressive undergraduate 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.

Full St Luke’s College Registered Nursing Report

17

Marshalltown Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Marshalltown, Iowa, this small public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Marshalltown Community College is $6,675 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

Full Marshalltown Community College Registered Nursing Report

18

Southwestern Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Southwestern Community College is a public institution located in Creston, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,164 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend SWCC.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Southwestern Community College

19

Iowa Lakes Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. This small school is located in Estherville, Iowa, and it awarded 27 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Iowa Lakes Community College is $10,007 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Iowa Lakes Community College

20

Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Lamoni, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s registered nursing degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.

Graceland Lamoni did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $18,286 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Graceland University - Lamoni.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Graceland Lamoni

21
Briar Cliff crest
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Briar Cliff University is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Briar Cliff also took the #4 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $22,212 for iowa registered nursing students per year to attend Briar Cliff.

Full Briar Cliff University Registered Nursing Report

22
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa

Morningside College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Morningside College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 34 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Morningside did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Morningside College is $22,350 for Iowa Registered Nursing students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Morningside College

23
St. Ambrose University crest
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 90 degrees to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

St. Ambrose University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Ambrose University is $26,292 for iowa registered nursing students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Saint Ambrose University

24
Dordt crest
Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Dordt is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Dordt also made our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $24,313 for iowa registered nursing students per year to attend Dordt University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Dordt University Registered Nursing Report

25
Mount Mercy crest
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa list. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s registered nursing degrees to 104 students in 2020-2021.

Mount Mercy also took the #11 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $22,668 for Iowa Registered Nursing students per year to attend Mount Mercy.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Mount Mercy University

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options