by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Iowa, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **23** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 23 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Drake University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Des Moines, IA. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,228. Graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the top graduate schools 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 average $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. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in Iowa in this year's ranking, Iowa State University landed the #3 spot. Iowa State University is a public school based in Ames, IA. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Median early-career earnings reach $54,204. The median student debt is $23,496.
The strong outcomes at Dordt College earned it the #4 place in Iowa. Set in Sioux Center, IA, Dordt College is a private not-for-profit institution. Dordt College graduates 74% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,050. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,926. Students borrow a median of $21,812 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in Iowa in this year's ranking, University Of Northern Iowa landed the #5 spot. Located in Cedar Falls, IA, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,054. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete a degree here.
Allen College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waterloo, IA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,787. Median early-career earnings reach $82,049. The median student debt is $31,000.
Loras College landed the #7 spot in Iowa this year. Set in Dubuque, IA, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. Loras College posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,824. Loras College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,117. The median student debt is $26,528.
Northwestern College Iowa did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Orange City, IA, Northwestern College Iowa is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Northwestern College Iowa graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,845. Typical student debt is $25,415.
Grand View University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Des Moines, IA, Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,762. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,180. Students borrow a median of $26,941 to complete a degree here.
Morningside College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. 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 run about $39,519. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,988. Students borrow a median of $27,281 to complete a degree here.
Simpson College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Indianola, IA, Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,656. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,816 to complete a degree here.
Mount Mercy University landed the #12 spot in Iowa this year. Based in Cedar Rapids, IA, Mount Mercy University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,878. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete a degree here.
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Located in West Des Moines, IA, Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $78,524.
Buena Vista University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit school based in Storm Lake, IA. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $44,780. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete a degree here.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #15 spot in Iowa this year. Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit school based in Davenport, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Saint Ambrose University graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,252. The median student debt is $27,528.
University Of Dubuque did well this year, earning the #16 position. University Of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit school based in Dubuque, IA. University Of Dubuque graduates 40% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,095. University Of Dubuque graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,808. Graduates carry a median of $27,204 in student loans.
Graceland University Lamoni came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Lamoni, IA, Graceland University Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution. Graceland University Lamoni graduates 42% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,848 in tuition and fees. Graceland University Lamoni graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,443. The median student debt is $27,509.
Briar Cliff University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Based 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,105. Graduates carry a median of $29,918 in student loans.
Clarke University placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Clarke University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dubuque, IA. Clarke University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,910. Median early-career earnings reach $53,450. The median student debt is $26,895.
Waldorf College landed the #20 spot in Iowa this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Forest City, IA. Waldorf College posts a six-year graduation rate of 24%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,978. Waldorf College graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,346. Students borrow a median of $24,622 to complete a degree here.
Upper Iowa University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fayette, IA. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. Median early-career earnings reach $51,441. The median student debt is $34,059.
Maharishi University Of Management landed the #22 spot in Iowa this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fairfield, IA. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,530. Early-career graduates earn a median of $73,644.
William Penn University placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Oskaloosa, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,750. William Penn University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,727. Typical student debt is $28,341.
*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.