Top 10 Best Value Colleges in Iowa for 2027

Picking a college to attend is difficult at best and downright impossible at worst. You've got to juggle things like distance from home, available programs, scholarships, and then there's the big one: the total cost.

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Trust me, I know a thing or two about college costs, having attended Wartburg College. My alma mater came in at No. 24 on Niche's list, and I still remember what that education cost me in 2004 dollars. Let's just say college wasn't exactly cheap back then, either.

So, if you're having a tough time figuring out where to start or trying to find a school that offers a good education without completely emptying your bank account, this might be a good place to start. At least, according to Niche.com, these are the top 10 best value colleges in Iowa for 2027.

Niche's Top 10 Best Value Colleges in Iowa for 2027

10) Clarke University, Dubuque
9) University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls
8) Grand View University, Des Moines
7) Central College, Pella
6) Graceland University, Lamoni
5) Simpson College, Indianola
4) Iowa State University, Ames
3) Coe College, Cedar Rapids
2) Buena Vista University, Storm Lake
1) Waldorf University, Forest City

How Does Niche Figure Out These Iowa Rankings?

So, what exactly makes a college a good value? It's about more than simply having the lowest tuition. For Niche, they use a combination of federal education data, along with student and alumni reviews to evaluate schools. Its 2027 methodology considers factors such as the average cost students pay after financial aid, graduation rates, student loan debt, and how much graduates earn after leaving school.

The rankings also look at economic mobility, which measures how effectively a college helps students from lower-income backgrounds improve their financial circumstances. Other factors include employment outcomes, loan default rates, student satisfaction with the value of their education, and how accessible professors are to students.

Essentially, Niche is looking at whether students are getting something worthwhile for the money they're spending, both while they're in college and after graduation. It's worth remembering that these rankings aren't a one-size-fits-all guide. A school's affordability can look different depending on scholarships, financial aid, a student's major, and your personal circumstances. Still, the annual list gives Iowa students and families another useful starting point as they begin comparing colleges and figuring out which school might be the right fit.