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 **18** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 18 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Drake University tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in Iowa. Set in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drake University posts a six-year graduation rate of 73%. In-state tuition and fees run about $51,960. Drake University graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,228. Graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
University Of Iowa came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Iowa. Based in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,375. Graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the top graduate schools in Iowa. This public school is set in Ames, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,900 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,495.
A rank of #4 makes Allen College one of the top graduate schools in Iowa. Allen College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waterloo, IA. Students from in state pay about $24,787 in tuition and fees. Allen College graduates report median early-career earnings of $82,049. Allen College students take on a median of $31,000 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Dordt College one of the top graduate schools in Iowa. Based in Sioux Center, IA, Dordt College is a private not-for-profit institution. Dordt College graduates 74% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,050 in tuition and fees. Dordt College graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,926. The median student debt is $21,812.
University Of Northern Iowa did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Cedar Falls, IA, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Median early-career earnings reach $46,054. Graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans.
Northwestern College Iowa did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Orange City, IA. Northwestern College Iowa posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,845. Northwestern College Iowa students take on a median of $25,415 in debt.
Morningside College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Sioux City, IA, Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,519. Morningside College graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,988. Students borrow a median of $27,281 to complete a degree here.
Loras College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Dubuque, IA, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $39,824 in tuition and fees. Loras College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,117. The median student debt is $26,528.
Grand View University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Des Moines, IA. Grand View University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,762. Median early-career earnings reach $45,180. The median student debt is $26,941.
Buena Vista University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Storm Lake, IA, Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $44,780. Graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans.
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center placed #12 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.
Simpson College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Indianola, IA, Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,656. Median early-career earnings reach $48,888. Typical student debt is $26,816.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit school based in Davenport, IA. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Median early-career earnings reach $57,252. Saint Ambrose University students take on a median of $27,528 in debt.
Mount Mercy University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Mount Mercy University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cedar Rapids, IA. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,878. Median early-career earnings reach $50,431. Typical student debt is $27,709.
Briar Cliff University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Briar Cliff University is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux City, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Students from in state pay about $35,642 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,105. Typical student debt is $29,918.
University Of Dubuque came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Dubuque, IA, University Of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,095. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,808 early in their careers. The median student debt is $27,204.
Graceland University Lamoni did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lamoni, IA. Graceland University Lamoni graduates 42% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,848 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $63,443. Graduates carry a median of $27,509 in student loans.
Clarke University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Clarke University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dubuque, IA. About 56% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,910. Median early-career earnings reach $53,450. The median student debt is $26,895.
Waldorf College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Forest City, IA, Waldorf College is a private for-profit institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,978. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,346 early in their careers. Waldorf College students take on a median of $24,622 in debt.
Upper Iowa University did well this year, earning the #21 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fayette, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,475. Upper Iowa University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,441. The median student debt is $34,059.
Maharishi University Of Management placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Set in Fairfield, IA, Maharishi University Of Management is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,530. Median early-career earnings reach $73,644.
Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Iowa. Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Ankeny, IA. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $20,270 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $21,543.
William Penn University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Oskaloosa, IA, William Penn University is a private not-for-profit institution. William Penn University graduates 33% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $29,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,727. William Penn University students take on a median of $28,341 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.
