by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 25 schools in Iowa to determine which ones have the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking, we first consider its average net price, which is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Iowa State University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school for bachelor’s degrees in Iowa for overall quality. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Iowa State University has the honor of being ranked #1 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $15,422.
The quality degree programs at University of Iowa helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa.
Not only is University of Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $17,599.
The quality degree programs at University of Northern Iowa helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Not only is University of Northern Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $15,231.
Out of the 25 bachelor’s degree schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Loras College landed the #4 spot on the list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Loras College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $20,068 a year.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list means Buena Vista University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Buena Vista University has the honor of being ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $18,532 a year.
Simpson College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianola, Iowa.
Simpson College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $20,986.
Coe College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Coe College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $19,141 a year.
Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Lamoni, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Graceland University - Lamoni has the honor of being ranked #21 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $18,595 a year.
Waldorf University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Waldorf University is a small private for-profit school located in Forest City, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Waldorf University is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $21,483 a year.
Cornell College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cornell College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Iowa. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $22,667.
Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #11. Upper Iowa University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fayette, Iowa.
Upper Iowa University has the honor of being ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $22,888.
Grand View University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Grand View University has the honor of being ranked #23 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $20,434.
Wartburg College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Wartburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waverly, Iowa.
Wartburg College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $23,022.
With a ranking of #14, Morningside College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Morningside is located in Sioux City, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Morningside College is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $23,222 a year.
With a ranking of #15, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Saint Ambrose University a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $24,844 a year.
Briar Cliff University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Briar Cliff University a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $21,734 a year.
Luther College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Decorah, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Luther College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Iowa. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $25,929.
With a ranking of #18, Drake University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Drake University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Des Moines, Iowa.
Not only is Drake University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $29,507 a year.
William Penn University landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Oskaloosa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is William Penn University a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $21,112.
With a ranking of #20, Dordt University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux Center, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dordt University is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Iowa. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $26,662.
Northwestern College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Located in Orange City, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Northwestern College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $24,848.
Clarke University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Clarke is located in Dubuque, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Clarke University is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $25,414 a year.
Mount Mercy University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Mount Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Not only is Mount Mercy University a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $25,345.
University of Dubuque landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Dubuque, Iowa.
University of Dubuque has the honor of being ranked #25 in Iowa for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $24,868 a year.
Grinnell College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Grinnell, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Grinnell College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $37,423 a year.
View Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools (With Aid) Nationwide >
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
