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

Every Master'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

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$444,391

Across all Iowa programs

Average Annual Cost

$37,628

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Medicine.	+$2,073,960	$145,698	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
2	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Dentistry.	+$1,949,654	$142,171	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,560,546	$126,268	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
4	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,535,074	$121,442	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,435,660	$113,783	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
6	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,367,134	$113,045	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Allen College	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,190,940	$101,547	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Graceland University-Lamoni Grad rate: 43.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,185,720	$105,971	$46,850	N/A	Full ROI →
9	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$1,139,222	$101,292	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Veterinary Medicine.	+$1,049,542	$96,808	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$1,015,002	$95,081	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Industrial Engineering.	+$963,802	$92,521	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$905,466	$93,514	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
14	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Public Health.	+$739,974	$81,687	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
15	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Law.	+$727,374	$81,057	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Saint Ambrose University Grad rate: 63.4%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$716,464	$82,825	$50,018	N/A	Full ROI →
17	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$711,702	$79,916	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
18	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$677,894	$78,583	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
19	University of Dubuque Grad rate: 40.2%	Theological and Ministerial Studies.	+$628,660	$78,539	$51,060	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Wartburg Theological Seminary	Theological and Ministerial Studies.	+$623,340	$73,167	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Saint Ambrose University Grad rate: 63.4%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$604,164	$77,210	$50,018	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$595,186	$78,000	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
23	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	+$578,600	$70,930	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Briar Cliff University Grad rate: 45.8%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$576,714	$75,805	$49,693	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$554,580	$69,729	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
26	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Public Health.	+$546,920	$69,346	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
27	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Plant Sciences.	+$539,582	$71,310	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Upper Iowa University Grad rate: 41.8%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$532,636	$73,474	$48,422	N/A	Full ROI →
29	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Civil Engineering.	+$530,022	$70,832	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
30	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$518,986	$70,112	$21,627	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Mount Mercy University Grad rate: 56.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$493,028	$71,895	$52,436	N/A	Full ROI →
32	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Medicine.	+$459,954	$67,686	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
33	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$455,522	$67,107	$23,309	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$446,766	$70,579	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
35	Saint Ambrose University Grad rate: 63.4%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$424,024	$68,203	$50,018	N/A	Full ROI →
36	Mount Mercy University Grad rate: 56.6%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$416,388	$68,063	$52,436	N/A	Full ROI →
37	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$392,706	$63,798	$21,627	N/A	Full ROI →
38	Saint Ambrose University Grad rate: 63.4%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$391,344	$66,569	$50,018	N/A	Full ROI →
39	University of Dubuque Grad rate: 40.2%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$343,080	$64,260	$51,060	N/A	Full ROI →
40	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Law.	+$335,446	$65,013	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
41	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$327,854	$61,081	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
42	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Public Administration.	+$291,726	$62,827	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
43	Buena Vista University Grad rate: 52.3%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$275,080	$61,003	$52,490	N/A	Full ROI →
44	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.	+$271,834	$58,280	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
45	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$270,566	$57,691	$21,627	N/A	Full ROI →
46	University of Northern Iowa Grad rate: 66.3%	Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.	+$263,106	$57,318	$21,627	N/A	Full ROI →
47	Clarke University Grad rate: 56.2%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$247,362	$59,658	$52,899	N/A	Full ROI →
48	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$207,446	$58,613	$62,407	N/A	Full ROI →
49	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$195,954	$54,486	$26,883	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Morningside University Grad rate: 54.5%	Education, Other.	+$195,542	$56,820	$50,429	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.