2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Iowa
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Leading the list is University Of Northern Iowa, our #1 best value for public health in Iowa. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the best values for public health. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,469 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $48,836. That is a strong return on a $22,469 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Saint Ambrose University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,528 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Saint Ambrose University generally make around $57,252. Set against $27,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Mount Mercy University, which ranked #4. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $40,878 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Mercy University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
