Colleges Whose Graduates Earn the Most in Iowa
Ranked by median earnings 10 years after entry (48 colleges with at least 200 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Median earnings 10 years after entry | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drake University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | $71,901 | $29,127 | $71,901 |
| 2 | Allen College Waterloo, IA · Private nonprofit | $71,261 | — | $71,261 |
| 3 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public | $64,762 | $22,531 | $64,762 |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames, IA · Public | $63,386 | $18,589 | $63,386 |
| 5 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofit | $62,830 | $17,648 | $62,830 |
| 6 | Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | $62,234 | $26,924 | $62,234 |
| 7 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit | $60,787 | $20,168 | $60,787 |
| 8 | Luther College Decorah, IA · Private nonprofit | $59,850 | $23,097 | $59,850 |
| 9 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA · Private nonprofit | $59,531 | $24,691 | $59,531 |
| 10 | Simpson College Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit | $59,274 | $21,936 | $59,274 |
| 11 | Loras College Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $58,289 | $20,716 | $58,289 |
| 12 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit | $57,125 | $18,745 | $57,125 |
| 13 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA · Private nonprofit | $56,201 | $32,908 | $56,201 |
| 14 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit | $55,494 | $31,320 | $55,494 |
| 15 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $55,396 | $24,479 | $55,396 |
| 16 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA · Public | $55,177 | $15,901 | $55,177 |
| 17 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit | $54,475 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| 18 | Central College Pella, IA · Private nonprofit | $54,317 | $23,377 | $54,317 |
| 19 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofit | $53,460 | $23,634 | $53,460 |
| 20 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | $52,824 | $21,774 | $52,824 |
| 21 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit | $52,766 | $20,942 | $52,766 |
| 22 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofit | $52,559 | $25,807 | $52,559 |
| 23 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $51,190 | $23,386 | $51,190 |
| 24 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA · Private nonprofit | $51,165 | $19,693 | $51,165 |
| 25 | Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA · Public | $50,776 | $14,800 | $50,776 |
| 26 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA · Private nonprofit | $49,802 | $25,907 | $49,802 |
| 27 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit | $49,156 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
| 28 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit | $48,936 | $22,601 | $48,936 |
| 29 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA · Private nonprofit | $47,361 | $18,504 | $47,361 |
| 30 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA · Public | $43,462 | $10,010 | $43,462 |
| 31 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA · Public | $43,108 | $13,933 | $43,108 |
| 32 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA · Public | $42,849 | $9,649 | $42,849 |
| 33 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA · Public | $42,793 | $14,629 | $42,793 |
| 34 | Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | $42,631 | $13,186 | $42,631 |
| 35 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA · Public | $42,046 | $9,328 | $42,046 |
| 36 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA · Public | $41,306 | $11,272 | $41,306 |
| 37 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA · Public | $41,018 | $11,171 | $41,018 |
| 38 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA · Public | $41,016 | $9,705 | $41,016 |
| 39 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA · Public | $41,010 | $8,059 | $41,010 |
| 40 | Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny, IA · Private nonprofit | $40,650 | $16,282 | $40,650 |
| 41 | Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IA · Public | $40,562 | $11,451 | $40,562 |
| 42 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA · Public | $40,507 | $10,693 | $40,507 |
| 43 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA · Public | $40,473 | $8,770 | $40,473 |
| 44 | Southwestern Community College Creston, IA · Public | $40,129 | $9,871 | $40,129 |
| 45 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA · Public | $39,060 | $14,017 | $39,060 |
| 46 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA · Public | $36,882 | $12,347 | $36,882 |
| 47 | Aveda Institute-Des Moines West Des Moines, IA · Private for-profit | $36,132 | $18,552 | $36,132 |
| 48 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofit | $27,981 | $14,956 | $27,981 |