2027 Best Value Value Schools in Iowa
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2027 Best Value Value Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Upper Iowa University tops our 2027 list of the best value value schools in Iowa. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $63,921. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #2 place for value. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Drake University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $67,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 3 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.
