2027 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Iowa

[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students.
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2027 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $46,054. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Buena Vista University one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $29,317. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $49,323. Set against $29,317 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Loras College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,824. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,528. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Loras College generally make around $43,117. That is a strong return on a $26,528 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at Upper Iowa University, which ranked #4. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. Students borrow a median of $34,059 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $48,612. That is a strong return on a $34,059 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at Saint Ambrose University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $27,528. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $57,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Morningside College earned the #6 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. In-state tuition and fees average $39,519. Students borrow a median of $27,281 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Morningside College earn a median of $54,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.