Best College ROI in Ia 2026
34 colleges in Ia analyzed for return on investment. Dordt University leads with a ROI Score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ia has 34 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 3 public institutions and 31 private ones. Across the 34 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $84K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ia colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Dordt University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from St Luke's College at $17K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ia
Dordt University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ia's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $20K in median debt.
Grinnell College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Iowa State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ia
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dordt University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 2 | Grinnell College(private) | Computer Science | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Iowa State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Briar Cliff University(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 5 | Central College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Clarke University(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | Coe College(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Cornell College(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Drake University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | Loras College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 11 | Luther College(private) | Information Science/Studies | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Northwestern College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | Simpson College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | University of Iowa(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Wartburg College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | William Penn University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Grand View University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | Morningside University(private) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Saint Ambrose University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $25K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Buena Vista University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
College debt and earnings data for Ia is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dordt University has the best ROI in Ia with a score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $20K in median debt.
Across 34 Ia colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $84K.
Dordt University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ia has 34 colleges in our database (3 public, 31 private). Of the 34 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).