2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Iowa
[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for general economics students.
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2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Economics Schools
Iowa State University tops our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools in Iowa. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $23,414. Early-career general economics graduates make about $57,619. Set against $23,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #2 place for general economics. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. General Economics graduates carry a median of $22,407 in student loans. General Economics graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $50,223 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,407 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Drake University one of the best values for general economics. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $22,273. Early-career general economics graduates make about $56,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
