2026 Best Value Mathematics & Statistics Schools in Iowa

[Mathematics & Statistics](/majors/mathematics-and-statistics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mathematics & statistics education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mathematics & statistics schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Mathematics & Statistics Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mathematics & statistics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mathematics & Statistics Schools
Grinnell College earned the #1 spot for value among mathematics & statistics schools in Iowa. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,196. Typical student debt for mathematics & statistics graduates is $17,154. Soon after graduation, mathematics & statistics degree recipients from Grinnell College generally make around $38,888. Set against $17,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of Northern Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mathematics & statistics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Typical student debt for mathematics & statistics graduates is $19,723. Early-career mathematics & statistics graduates make about $51,423. That is a strong return on a $19,723 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mathematics & statistics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,152 to complete the mathematics & statistics program here. Early-career mathematics & statistics graduates make about $52,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #4 place for mathematics & statistics. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mathematics & statistics graduates is $21,330. Mathematics & Statistics graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $62,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in mathematics & statistics will find it at Drake University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Mathematics & Statistics graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mathematics & statistics degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
More Mathematics & Statistics Rankings
View All Mathematics & Statistics Rankings >
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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.