By Ryan Mercer · CampusROI Editorial Team
Best College Value in Iowa: Top Schools by ROI (2026)
Grinnell College scores 83/100 ROI at $17,648 net price with $62,830 median earnings. Drake follows at 81/100, and Iowa State anchors the public tier at 79/100.
Iowa's ROI ranking pairs a heavily-endowed liberal-arts college with two solid public research universities. Here's the full picture.
Top Iowa Schools by ROI Score
| Rank | School | ROI Score | Net Price | 10-Yr Earnings | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell College | 83/100 | $17,648 | $62,830 | 88% |
| 2 | Drake University | 81/100 | $29,127 | $71,901 | 74% |
| 3 | Iowa State University | 79/100 | $18,589 | $63,386 | 75% |
| 4 | University of Iowa | 76/100 | $22,531 | $64,762 | 75% |
| 5 | University of Northern Iowa | 69/100 | $15,901 | $55,177 | 68% |
Grinnell: Endowment-Driven Value
Grinnell College scores 83/100 at $17,648 net price with $62,830 median earnings and an 88% graduation rate. That net price is remarkably low for a top liberal-arts college - the result of one of the largest per-student endowments in the country, which funds generous need-based aid.
Grinnell's graduate and professional-school placement is excellent, which the 10-year earnings figure understates (many graduates are still in advanced degrees at the measurement point).
Drake: Private Professional Programs
Drake University at $29,127 net and $71,901 earnings scores 81/100. Its pharmacy, business, and actuarial-science programs are standouts, with strong placement into the Des Moines insurance-and-finance corridor (Principal, Wellmark, Nationwide).
Iowa State and University of Iowa: The Public Tier
Iowa State ($18,589 net, $63,386 earnings) is the engineering-and-agriculture powerhouse, feeding directly into Midwest ag-tech and manufacturing. The University of Iowa ($22,531 net, $64,762 earnings) is the broad flagship, with a nationally-ranked medical and health-sciences pipeline and the Tippie College of Business.
The Bottom Line
For Iowa residents: Iowa State for engineering and ag-science, the University of Iowa for the broad flagship and health sciences, Grinnell for top liberal arts if you qualify for aid. For Midwest comparisons, see our companion analyses for Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Data: College Scorecard 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Iowa college has the best ROI?
Grinnell College leads at 83/100 ROI with $17,648 net price and $62,830 median earnings and an 88% graduation rate - a low net price for a top liberal-arts college thanks to its large endowment and generous aid. Drake University and Iowa State follow closely.
Is Iowa State worth it?
Yes for Iowa residents. Iowa State scores 79/100 at $18,589 net price with $63,386 median earnings. Its engineering and agricultural-science programs are nationally recognized and feed directly into the Midwest agriculture, manufacturing, and insurance sectors.
Is Grinnell College worth the cost?
Grinnell scores 83/100 at $17,648 net price - unusually low for a top-tier liberal-arts college, driven by one of the largest per-student endowments in the country. With $62,830 median earnings and an 88% graduation rate plus excellent graduate-school placement, the value case is strong for students who get aid.
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