Home › Rankings › Best Degrees in Iowa

Best Value Degrees in Iowa (2026)

Top 100 of 364 programs in Iowa · Updated 2026

The best college programs in Iowa, ranked by overall value. We scored 364 programs across Iowa schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $60,915/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in IA

364

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$60,915/yr

Avg DW Score

75/100

#1 Program

Management Science & Analytics

University of Iowa

Top Programs in Iowa

Top 100 programs by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Management Science & Analytics University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	90 82–91	$70,324/yr	Very High	21.0x
2	Business Administration Iowa State University · Ames, IA	87 81–89	$57,188/yr	High	17.6x
3	Computer Science Iowa State University · Ames, IA	88 76–90	$78,517/yr	Very High	24.9x
4	Finance University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	84 77–88	$59,965/yr	Very High	19.4x
5	Business Administration University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	85 79–87	$51,690/yr	High	17.1x
6	Accounting University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	83 75–87	$65,373/yr	Very High	19.7x
7	Finance Iowa State University · Ames, IA	83 76–86	$56,974/yr	Very High	17.0x
8	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	85 80–83	$69,368/yr	High	15.8x
9	Business Administration University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	82 74–86	$46,264/yr	High	17.5x
10	Computer Science University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	85 73–87	$65,960/yr	Very High	24.1x
11	Accounting University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	83 75–86	$61,088/yr	Very High	19.9x
12	Finance University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	82 75–85	$52,759/yr	Very High	17.5x
13	Computer Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	84 73–87	$79,182/yr	Very High	25.5x
14	Computer & Information Science University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	83 71–85	$60,199/yr	Very High	18.8x
15	Agricultural Business Iowa State University · Ames, IA	79 75–81	$53,967/yr	High	15.4x
16	Accounting Iowa State University · Ames, IA	80 73–83	$58,479/yr	Very High	16.5x
17	Economics Iowa State University · Ames, IA	80 73–83	$57,619/yr	Very High	18.3x
18	Construction Management University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	82 75–82	$68,698/yr	High	20.6x
19	Food Science & Technology Iowa State University · Ames, IA	77 75–75	$60,351/yr	Moderate	14.2x
20	Computer Engineering University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	83 73–84	$79,228/yr	Very High	17.1x
21	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	77 75–75	$61,373/yr	Moderate	14.4x
22	Computer & Information Science Iowa State University · Ames, IA	82 72–82	$60,397/yr	Very High	13.4x
23	Economics University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	77 68–81	$50,223/yr	Very High	17.1x
24	Human Resources University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	77 71–79	$52,945/yr	High	16.1x
25	Industrial Production Technologies University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	74 72–74	$69,122/yr	Moderate	20.7x
26	Economics University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	78 69–81	$49,314/yr	Very High	18.5x
27	Public Administration Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	78 73–79	$61,104/yr	High	9.0x
28	Fire Protection & Safety Waldorf University · Forest City, IA	77 76–74	$97,731/yr	Moderate	8.9x
29	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) Iowa State University · Ames, IA	77 74–77	$47,559/yr	High	12.1x
30	Marketing University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	76 68–79	$52,895/yr	Very High	16.3x
31	Nursing (RN/BSN) Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	78 74–75	$70,224/yr	High	9.3x
32	Business Administration Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	77 72–77	$55,854/yr	High	7.8x
33	Business Administration Central College · Pella, IA	76 70–77	$55,760/yr	High	7.1x
34	Management Science & Analytics Drake University · Des Moines, IA	76 68–79	$80,044/yr	Very High	4.9x
35	Teacher Education (General) Iowa State University · Ames, IA	74 74–72	$45,512/yr	High	10.9x
36	Engineering-Related Fields Iowa State University · Ames, IA	75 71–75	$62,416/yr	High	17.5x
37	Business Office Administration Iowa State University · Ames, IA	71 66–76	$49,962/yr	Very High	10.9x
38	Nursing (RN/BSN) Mercy College of Health Sciences · Des Moines, IA	78 74–75	$66,309/yr	High	9.6x
39	Criminal Justice University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	76 74–75	$43,748/yr	Moderate	10.2x
40	Agricultural Mechanization Iowa State University · Ames, IA	70 69–69	$63,321/yr	Moderate	16.4x
41	Bilingual & Multilingual Iowa State University · Ames, IA	74 74–73	$48,052/yr	High	10.4x
42	Construction Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	74 69–76	$77,845/yr	High	21.7x
43	Teacher Education (General) University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	73 73–72	$45,015/yr	High	10.7x
44	Industrial Engineering University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	75 69–76	$75,699/yr	High	20.5x
45	Public Administration University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	74 68–76	$38,877/yr	High	13.2x
46	Marketing University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	75 68–77	$48,990/yr	Very High	16.3x
47	Nursing (RN/BSN) St Luke's College · Sioux City, IA	78 73–75	$71,064/yr	High	7.5x
48	Business Administration William Penn University · Oskaloosa, IA	75 70–76	$62,162/yr	High	4.4x
49	Electrical Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	74 67–77	$84,913/yr	Very High	24.6x
50	Industrial Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	75 69–75	$74,310/yr	High	20.0x
51	Environmental Control Technologies Iowa State University · Ames, IA	71 70–70	$63,707/yr	Moderate	14.2x
52	Marketing Iowa State University · Ames, IA	73 66–76	$48,304/yr	Very High	15.3x
53	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	73 71–73	$44,715/yr	High	10.5x
54	Teacher Education (General) University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	72 72–71	$42,790/yr	High	10.9x
55	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	74 71–73	$43,602/yr	High	11.2x
56	Electromechanical Instrumentation University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	72 68–72	$75,667/yr	Moderate	18.4x
57	Business Administration Saint Ambrose University · Davenport, IA	74 68–75	$60,163/yr	High	3.9x
58	Nursing (RN/BSN) Allen College · Waterloo, IA	76 71–73	$65,924/yr	High	7.0x
59	Business Administration Briar Cliff University · Sioux City, IA	73 67–74	$55,784/yr	High	4.0x
60	Aerospace Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	72 67–73	$75,036/yr	High	21.0x
61	Criminal Justice Iowa State University · Ames, IA	73 72–72	$41,624/yr	Moderate	8.9x
62	Entrepreneurship Iowa State University · Ames, IA	76 71–76	$46,374/yr	High	10.0x
63	Business (General) Mount Mercy University · Cedar Rapids, IA	72 67–73	$57,572/yr	High	3.5x
64	Health Administration Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	72 66–73	$49,916/yr	High	6.5x
65	Business (General) Waldorf University · Forest City, IA	72 67–73	$51,954/yr	High	4.6x
66	Accounting Central College · Pella, IA	71 64–74	$58,850/yr	Very High	7.9x
67	Finance Drake University · Des Moines, IA	69 62–73	$62,049/yr	Very High	4.0x
68	Nursing (RN/BSN) Graceland University-Lamoni · Lamoni, IA	71 66–71	$66,955/yr	High	5.1x
69	Chemical Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	72 66–73	$76,184/yr	High	21.9x
70	Civil Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	72 67–73	$72,502/yr	High	19.5x
71	Mechanical Engineering Iowa State University · Ames, IA	72 66–74	$72,900/yr	Very High	20.1x
72	Nursing (RN/BSN) Northwestern College · Orange City, IA	72 67–72	$71,479/yr	High	4.1x
73	Human Resources Waldorf University · Forest City, IA	74 70–74	$77,897/yr	High	6.5x
74	Business (General) Grand View University · Des Moines, IA	71 65–71	$51,251/yr	High	3.2x
75	Chemical Engineering University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	71 65–72	$75,340/yr	High	19.7x
76	Civil Engineering University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	71 66–72	$70,313/yr	High	18.4x
77	Electrical Engineering University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	72 64–75	$70,686/yr	Very High	24.2x
78	Mechanical Engineering University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	71 65–73	$71,732/yr	Very High	18.7x
79	Chemistry University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	70 64–71	$44,847/yr	High	13.1x
80	Nursing (RN/BSN) Morningside University · Sioux City, IA	71 65–69	$68,397/yr	High	3.8x
81	Apparel and Textiles University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	69 63–71	$44,647/yr	High	14.1x
82	Real Estate University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	71 66–72	$56,866/yr	High	17.0x
83	Nursing (RN/BSN) Saint Ambrose University · Davenport, IA	71 65–70	$66,151/yr	High	4.5x
84	Business Administration Simpson College · Indianola, IA	71 65–71	$56,812/yr	High	2.6x
85	Finance Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	70 64–72	$48,860/yr	Very High	7.1x
86	Nursing (RN/BSN) Dordt University · Sioux Center, IA	72 67–71	$71,680/yr	High	3.2x
87	Nursing (RN/BSN) Grand View University · Des Moines, IA	70 65–70	$64,042/yr	High	3.7x
88	Computer Science Grinnell College · Grinnell, IA	71 59–73	$84,449/yr	Very High	3.7x
89	Kinesiology & Exercise Science Iowa State University · Ames, IA	65 61–66	$36,492/yr	Moderate	13.6x
90	Mathematics University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA	71 62–73	$60,612/yr	Very High	16.0x
91	Finance Loras College · Dubuque, IA	69 63–71	$59,434/yr	Very High	3.5x
92	Nursing (RN/BSN) Luther College · Decorah, IA	71 66–70	$75,533/yr	High	2.7x
93	Nursing (RN/BSN) Mount Mercy University · Cedar Rapids, IA	70 64–69	$66,647/yr	High	3.6x
94	Public Relations & Advertising University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA	69 63–70	$43,755/yr	High	13.8x
95	Accounting Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	69 63–71	$54,152/yr	Very High	6.7x
96	Homeland Security Waldorf University · Forest City, IA	68 68–69	$66,446/yr	Moderate	5.6x
97	Business (General) Wartburg College · Waverly, IA	69 64–71	$54,652/yr	High	2.5x
98	Finance Buena Vista University · Storm Lake, IA	67 60–70	$52,226/yr	Very High	3.6x
99	Computer & Information Science Drake University · Des Moines, IA	70 59–72	$69,835/yr	Very High	3.6x
100	Business Administration Drake University · Des Moines, IA	67 61–71	$47,806/yr	High	3.1x

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 programs at Iowa colleges and universities, drawn from 364 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college program in Iowa?

By DegreeWorth Score, Management Science & Analytics at University of Iowa ranks #1 in Iowa with a score of 90/100 and graduate earnings of $70,324/yr.

How many college programs are in Iowa?

Our database includes 364 programs across Iowa colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.