by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Iowa, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **12** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 12 graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
University Of Iowa earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Iowa. Located in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,463.
You'll be in good company at Iowa State University, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Ames, IA. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Iowa State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,204. Typical student debt is $23,496.
A rank of #3 makes Saint Ambrose University one of the top graduate schools in Iowa. Based in Davenport, IA, Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Ambrose University graduates 61% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,252. Saint Ambrose University students take on a median of $27,528 in debt.
Drake University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Iowa. Drake University is a private not-for-profit school based in Des Moines, IA. Drake University posts a six-year graduation rate of 73%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,960. Median early-career earnings reach $56,228. The median student debt is $22,273.
Allen College came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Iowa. Set in Waterloo, IA, Allen College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $24,787 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $82,049. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Set in Cedar Falls, IA, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,635.
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Des Moines, IA. Early-career graduates earn a median of $78,524.
Clarke University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dubuque, IA. Clarke University graduates 56% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,910. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,450 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,895.
Palmer College Of Chiropractic Davenport landed the #9 spot in Iowa this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Davenport, IA. Students from in state pay about $11,760 in tuition and fees. Palmer College Of Chiropractic Davenport graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,093.
Briar Cliff University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Located in Sioux City, IA, Briar Cliff University is a private not-for-profit institution. Briar Cliff University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,642. Briar Cliff University graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,105. Typical student debt is $29,918.
Morningside College placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Located in Sioux City, IA, Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution. Morningside College posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,519. Median early-career earnings reach $54,988. The median student debt is $27,281.
Maharishi University Of Management placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Set in Fairfield, IA, Maharishi University Of Management is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,530. Maharishi University Of Management graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,644.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Graduate schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.