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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Iowa

[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in Iowa

2026 Best Value Value Schools in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Value Schools

1

Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA

$19,475 In-State Tuition & Fees

$31,000 Avg Student Debt

$52,766 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Upper Iowa University, our #1 best value for value in Iowa. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Students from in state pay about $19,475 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $63,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

2

Drake University
Des Moines, IA

$51,960 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,273 Avg Student Debt

$71,901 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Drake University earned it the #2 place for value. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,273. Value graduates of Drake University earn a median of $67,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.

View All Value 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 · 9 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.