Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Social Sciences

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa

13 Ranked Colleges
1,540 Degrees Awarded
$21,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa” ranking.

With 205,726 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, social sciences is the 5th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 1,610 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,613 and $22,174 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,540 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools

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

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in Iowa

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social sciences degrees to 209 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students list, Iowa State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $15,496 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Iowa State University Social Sciences Report

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 151 bachelors’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $15,620 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNI Social Sciences Report

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 571 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,145 for iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Social Sciences Report

#4

Central College

Pella, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Central College landed the #4 spot on the list. Central College is a small school located in Pella, Iowa that handed out 41 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students list, Central has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $23,269 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students per year to attend Central.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Central Social Sciences Report

#5

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loras College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa. Loras College is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 36 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loras College is $20,676 for iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Loras College

#6

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Upper Iowa University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa ranking. This small school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 85 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Upper Iowa University is $21,624 for iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students.

Full UIU Social Sciences Report

#7

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

Simpson College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa ranking. Located in Indianola, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Simpson College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Simpson College is $19,151 for iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Simpson College

#8

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Drake University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa ranking. Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Drake also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drake is $29,432 for iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Drake University Social Sciences Report

#9

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa list. Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waverly, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students list, Wartburg has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $21,787 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students per year to attend Wartburg College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wartburg Social Sciences Report

#10

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

Luther College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa ranking. Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Luther, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Luther College is $23,620 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Luther

#11

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Cornell College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa list. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It awarded 19 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornell College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $26,901 for iowa bachelor’s degree social sciences students per year to attend Cornell College.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Cornell College Social Sciences Report

#12

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Coe College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Coe also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,955 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students per year to attend Coe College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Coe College

#13

Grinnell College

Grinnell, Iowa
#1 in overall quality

Grinnell College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa list. Grinnell is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grinnell, Iowa. It awarded 129 bachelors’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grinnell, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grinnell is $22,486 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Social Sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Social Sciences at Grinnell College

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.

Credits

Featured Social Science Schools

Find Schools Near You