Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Iowa by ROI

Every Bachelor's Degree program in Iowa ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Iowa

356

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$72,484

Across all Iowa programs

Average Annual Cost

$41,781

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Grinnell College Grad rate: 87.9%	Computer Science.	+$943,241	$106,113	$79,228	$16,375	Full ROI →
2	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.	+$733,940	$92,797	$62,407	$23,979	Full ROI →
3	Luther College Grad rate: 74.6%	Computer Science.	+$700,810	$91,432	$62,845	$27,000	Full ROI →
4	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Computer Engineering.	+$699,749	$83,292	$23,309	$24,337	Full ROI →
5	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$699,358	$83,452	$23,309	$26,997	Full ROI →
6	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Computer Science.	+$657,388	$81,196	$23,309	$24,663	Full ROI →
7	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Industrial Engineering.	+$633,879	$80,592	$26,883	$22,540	Full ROI →
8	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$633,276	$80,787	$26,883	$25,875	Full ROI →
9	Coe College Grad rate: 62.0%	Computer Science.	+$594,132	$84,643	$64,682	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Construction Engineering.	+$588,669	$77,479	$23,309	$20,500	Full ROI →
11	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Chemical Engineering.	+$561,770	$76,113	$23,309	$20,188	Full ROI →
12	Simpson College Grad rate: 66.2%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$547,612	$81,168	$58,937	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Waldorf University Grad rate: 27.5%	Fire Protection.	+$534,772	$77,816	$38,035	$21,783	Full ROI →
14	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$526,099	$74,553	$23,309	$23,500	Full ROI →
15	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Mathematics.	+$511,132	$80,038	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
16	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians.	+$500,614	$72,923	$21,627	$23,213	Full ROI →
17	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.	+$496,871	$73,299	$23,309	$26,572	Full ROI →
18	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Materials Engineering	+$472,465	$71,846	$23,309	$23,125	Full ROI →
19	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Industrial Engineering.	+$460,021	$71,266	$23,309	$23,750	Full ROI →
20	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Computer Science.	+$459,142	$71,051	$21,627	$26,200	Full ROI →
21	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Civil Engineering.	+$442,776	$70,505	$23,309	$25,250	Full ROI →
22	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Chemical Engineering.	+$438,138	$71,106	$26,883	$27,000	Full ROI →
23	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$410,570	$69,465	$26,883	$23,109	Full ROI →
24	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.	+$408,203	$69,238	$26,883	$21,500	Full ROI →
25	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$386,393	$68,215	$26,883	$22,500	Full ROI →
26	Graceland University-Lamoni Grad rate: 43.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$372,322	$72,062	$46,850	$30,754	Full ROI →
27	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Management Information Systems and Services.	+$366,344	$64,979	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
28	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Biomedical/Medical Engineering.	+$356,938	$67,046	$26,883	$27,000	Full ROI →
29	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Construction Management.	+$355,382	$65,647	$21,627	$23,000	Full ROI →
30	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Management Information Systems and Services.	+$351,277	$65,408	$21,627	$22,500	Full ROI →
31	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Agricultural Engineering.	+$335,559	$64,891	$23,309	$21,500	Full ROI →
32	Waldorf University Grad rate: 27.5%	Human Resources Management and Services.	+$334,990	$68,524	$38,035	$32,111	Full ROI →
33	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Finance and Financial Management Services.	+$334,115	$65,646	$26,883	$23,165	Full ROI →
34	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$328,702	$72,353	$62,407	$21,281	Full ROI →
35	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Civil Engineering.	+$322,338	$65,316	$26,883	$27,000	Full ROI →
36	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Finance and Financial Management Services.	+$311,622	$71,750	$62,407	$25,000	Full ROI →
37	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$310,494	$64,658	$26,883	$26,025	Full ROI →
38	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$284,226	$62,375	$23,309	$22,250	Full ROI →
39	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Engineering-Related Fields.	+$276,775	$62,204	$23,309	$25,236	Full ROI →
40	Dordt University Grad rate: 66.2%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$270,992	$65,494	$49,722	N/A	Full ROI →
41	Allen College	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$269,270	$57,556	N/A	$31,000	Full ROI →
42	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Agricultural Mechanization.	+$264,606	$61,306	$23,309	$20,946	Full ROI →
43	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$257,233	$60,640	$21,627	$21,525	Full ROI →
44	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$247,733	$61,438	$26,883	$24,811	Full ROI →
45	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$238,457	$67,788	$62,407	$20,500	Full ROI →
46	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$236,536	$60,058	$23,309	$23,250	Full ROI →
47	William Penn University Grad rate: 29.5%	Business/Commerce, General.	+$233,844	$61,842	$40,749	N/A	Full ROI →
48	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$233,458	$60,872	$26,883	$27,000	Full ROI →
49	University of Dubuque Grad rate: 40.2%	Sociology.	+$233,120	$63,868	$51,060	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Area Studies.	+$218,884	$57,606	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.