2026 Best Value Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Schools in Iowa
[Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/emergency-medical-technology-technician-emt-paramedic/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) students.
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2026 Best Value Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic), balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) Schools
Leading the list is Indian Hills Community College, our #1 best value for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) in Iowa. Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ottumwa. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) graduates is $15,390. Soon after graduation, emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degree recipients from Indian Hills Community College generally make around $43,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Iowa Tech Community College earned it the #2 place for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic). Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates carry a median of $7,935 in student loans. Soon after graduation, emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $43,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic). Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates carry a median of $21,945 in student loans. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $52,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,945 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Iowa Central Community College one of the best values for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic). Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates carry a median of $15,186 in student loans. Early-career emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) graduates make about $50,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Iowa Community College District earned it the #5 place for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic). Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Students borrow a median of $17,943 to complete the emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) program here. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $42,927 early in their careers. Set against $17,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #6 for value in emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,780, compared with $7,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) program here. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates of Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earn a median of $51,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College earned the #7 position for value in emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) 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, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) program here. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $55,987 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #8 among the best values for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic). Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates carry a median of $20,600 in student loans. Early-career emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) graduates make about $51,185. Set against $20,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Iowa Community College landed the #9 spot for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) value this year. Set in the town of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, compared with $7,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) graduates is $12,271. Soon after graduation, emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degree recipients from Northwest Iowa Community College generally make around $54,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) schools. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,420, with out-of-state students paying around $6,570. Students borrow a median of $16,126 to complete the emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) program here. Early-career emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) graduates make about $60,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Iowa came in at #11 for value in emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Emergency Medical Technology/technician (Emt Paramedic) graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) graduates make about $57,375. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Mercy College Of Health Sciences ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) schools. Located in the city of Des Moines, Mercy College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,664. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) program here. Soon after graduation, emergency medical technology/technician (emt paramedic) degree recipients from Mercy College Of Health Sciences generally make around $55,912. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Mercy College Of Health Sciences admits about 100% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
