Highest ROI College Degrees in Iowa

Top 20 college + major combinations in Iowa ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost
1	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Medicine.	+$2,073,960	$145,698	N/A	Full ROI →
2	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Dentistry.	+$1,949,654	$142,171	$26,883	Full ROI →
3	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,560,546	$126,268	$62,407	Full ROI →
4	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,535,074	$121,442	$26,883	Full ROI →
5	Graceland University-Lamoni Grad rate: 43.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,443,630	$116,524	$46,850	Full ROI →
6	Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,435,660	$113,783	N/A	Full ROI →
7	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,367,134	$113,045	$26,883	Full ROI →
8	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,213,448	$108,049	$26,883	Full ROI →
9	Allen College	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,190,940	$101,547	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Graceland University-Lamoni Grad rate: 43.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,185,720	$105,971	$46,850	Full ROI →
11	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.	+$1,139,222	$101,292	$23,309	Full ROI →
12	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Veterinary Medicine.	+$1,049,542	$96,808	$23,309	Full ROI →
13	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Mechanical Engineering.	+$1,015,002	$95,081	$23,309	Full ROI →
14	Iowa State University Grad rate: 75.0%	Industrial Engineering.	+$963,802	$92,521	$23,309	Full ROI →
15	Grinnell College Grad rate: 87.9%	Computer Science.	+$943,241	$106,113	$79,228	Full ROI →
16	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$905,466	$93,514	$62,407	Full ROI →
17	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$824,448	$88,599	$26,883	Full ROI →
18	Clarke University Grad rate: 56.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$770,844	$91,122	$52,899	Full ROI →
19	University of Iowa Grad rate: 73.4%	Public Health.	+$739,974	$81,687	$26,883	Full ROI →
20	Drake University Grad rate: 76.8%	Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.	+$733,940	$92,797	$62,407	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.