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2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Iowa

[Playwriting & Screenwriting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/playwriting-and-screenwriting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for playwriting & screenwriting students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Iowa

2026 Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools in Iowa

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

Best Value Playwriting & Screenwriting Schools

1

Maharishi University Of Management
Fairfield, IA

$16,530 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,981 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in playwriting & screenwriting, no school beat Maharishi University Of Management this year. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,530 in tuition and fees. Early-career playwriting & screenwriting graduates make about $32,294. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

2

University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

$11,283 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,622 Avg Student Debt

$64,762 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in playwriting & screenwriting will find it at University Of Iowa, which ranked #2. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Playwriting & Screenwriting graduates carry a median of $26,622 in student loans. Soon after graduation, playwriting & screenwriting degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $22,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% 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 · 2 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.