2022 Best Schools for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa
There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. 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:
Finding Your Best College Match
Our analysis looked at 45 schools in Iowa to determine which ones have the best value 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.
Our Methodology
When determining the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking, we first look at its average net price, which is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid 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.
More Rankings to View
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.
- Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa
- Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa
- Best Master’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa
- Best Doctor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa
Best Value Schools (With Aid) in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Southeastern Community College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school in Iowa for overall quality. West Burlington, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Southeastern Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,719.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Des Moines Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $9,296.
The quality degree programs at Kirkwood Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa. Kirkwood Community College is a public institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kirkwood Community College 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 $8,727 a year.
The quality degree programs at Marshalltown Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa. Marshalltown Community College is located in Marshalltown, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Marshalltown Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,199.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list means North Iowa Area Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, North Iowa Area Community College is ranked #29 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $8,456 a year.
With a ranking of #6, Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Located in Calmar, Iowa, the school is a small public institution.
Northeast Iowa Community College has the honor of being ranked #31 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 $8,218.
Iowa State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. This large public school is located in Ames, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Iowa State University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $16,105 a year.
Indian Hills Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Indian Hills Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #34 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,048.
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school located in Sheldon, Iowa.
Northwest Iowa Community College has the honor of being ranked #19 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 $10,395 a year.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Sioux City, Iowa.
Western Iowa Tech Community College has the honor of being ranked #35 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 $8,784.
University of Northern Iowa came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Northern Iowa is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Iowa. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $16,166.
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Eastern Iowa Community College District a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $9,278.
With a ranking of #13, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Iowa Central Community College has the honor of being ranked #30 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 $9,931 a year.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Iowa Western Community College is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Iowa Western Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $10,995 a year.
University of Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Iowa a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $17,452 a year.
With a ranking of #16, Hawkeye Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Waterloo, Iowa.
Hawkeye Community College has the honor of being ranked #38 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 $10,581 a year.
Ellsworth Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Ellsworth is located in Iowa Falls, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Ellsworth Community College has the honor of being ranked #39 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 $10,983 a year.
Iowa Lakes Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Iowa Lakes Community College is a small public school situated in Estherville, Iowa.
Iowa Lakes Community College has the honor of being ranked #41 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 $9,804 a year.
Southwestern Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Located in Creston, Iowa, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Southwestern Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #42 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $9,182 a year.
Simpson College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianola, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Simpson College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $20,457 a year.
Buena Vista University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Buena Vista University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Not only is Buena Vista University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Iowa for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $18,300 a year.
With a ranking of #22, Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Graceland University - Lamoni a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $18,434.
With a ranking of #23, Central College did quite well on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. Pella, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Central College has the honor of being ranked #13 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 $21,690 a year.
With a ranking of #24, Maharishi International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa list. MIU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fairfield, Iowa.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Maharishi International University is ranked #44 for quality in the state of Iowa. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,802 a year.
Loras College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Iowa ranking. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Loras College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Iowa for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $22,418.
Best Value Schools (With Aid) in the Plains States Region
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More Iowa Rankings
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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).
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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