2026 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in Iowa
[Medical/Clinical Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/medical-clinical-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools.
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2026 Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the medical/clinical assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked North Iowa Area Community College the best value for a degree in medical/clinical assistant in Iowa. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $44,455. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in medical/clinical assistant will find it at Western Iowa Tech Community College, which ranked #2. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $13,750. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $37,483. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in medical/clinical assistant will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #3. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $18,616. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $33,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Iowa Central Community College one of the best values for medical/clinical assistant. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $15,560 in student loans. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $34,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Iowa Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in medical/clinical assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $15,995. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,770. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $14,136. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $32,840. Set against $14,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hawkeye Community College came in at #7 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $20,716 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $39,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,420, compared with $6,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,296 to complete the medical/clinical assistant program here. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $36,202. That is a strong return on a $14,296 median debt.
Hamilton Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value medical/clinical assistant schools. Hamilton Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. In-state tuition and fees average $15,600. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, medical/clinical assistant degree recipients from Hamilton Technical College generally make around $32,377. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brown Mackie College Quad Cities came in at #10 for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Brown Mackie College Quad Cities is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $12,554. Early-career medical/clinical assistant graduates make about $29,537. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mercy College Of Health Sciences earned the #11 position for value in medical/clinical assistant this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Mercy College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,664. Typical student debt for medical/clinical assistant graduates is $32,929. Medical/clinical Assistant graduates of Mercy College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $62,029 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,929 median debt. Mercy College Of Health Sciences admits about 100% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
