2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Iowa
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Iowa? Our ranking highlights 75 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated 69 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Northwestern College Iowa earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in Iowa. Based in Orange City, IA, Northwestern College Iowa is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern College Iowa graduates 66% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Northwestern College Iowa Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,415 in debt. See the full Northwestern College Iowa profile
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at Drake University earned it the #2 place in Iowa. Based in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drake University posts a six-year graduation rate of 73%. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,273. Get the full Drake University report
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at University Of Iowa earned it the #3 place in Iowa. University Of Iowa is a public school based in Iowa City, IA. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $24,463. See the full University Of Iowa profile
Saint Ambrose University came in at #4 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Iowa. Based in Davenport, IA, Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Ambrose University posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $36,658. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full Saint Ambrose University report
Simpson College came in at #5 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Indianola, IA. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $47,656 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $26,816 in student loans. Read the full report on Simpson College
Iowa State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Iowa State University is a public school based in Ames, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Iowa State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $23,495 in debt. Read more about Iowa State University
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot in Iowa this year. Based in Cedar Falls, IA, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. University Of Northern Iowa posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $22,635. Read more about University Of Northern Iowa
Loras College landed the #8 spot in Iowa this year. Located in Dubuque, IA, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,824. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,528. Read more about Loras College
Buena Vista University placed #9 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit school based in Storm Lake, IA. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Buena Vista University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $29,317 in debt. Read more about Buena Vista University
Graceland University Lamoni placed #10 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lamoni, IA. Graceland University Lamoni graduates 42% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $19,848. Graceland University Lamoni Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $27,509 in debt. More on Graceland University Lamoni
Morningside College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux City, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,519. Students borrow a median of $27,281 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on Morningside College
Grand View University did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Des Moines, IA. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,762. Grand View University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,941 in debt. Get the full Grand View University report
Mount Mercy University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedar Rapids, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,878. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $27,709. Get the full Mount Mercy University report
Briar Cliff University landed the #14 spot in Iowa this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sioux City, IA. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,642. Briar Cliff University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $29,918 in debt. See the full Briar Cliff University profile
Upper Iowa University placed #15 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fayette, IA. Upper Iowa University graduates 33% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $34,059. Read more about Upper Iowa University
University Of Dubuque placed #16 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. Located in Dubuque, IA, University Of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Dubuque graduates 40% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,095. Graduates carry a median of $27,204 in student loans. See the full University Of Dubuque profile
Clarke University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Dubuque, IA, Clarke University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,910. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,895. More on Clarke University
Southeastern Community College West Burlington ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Southeastern Community College West Burlington
Capri College Dubuque landed the #19 spot in Iowa this year. Read the full report on Capri College Dubuque
American Hair Academy did well this year, earning the #20 position. More on American Hair Academy
E Q School Of Hair Design placed #22 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. See the full E Q School Of Hair Design profile
La James International College Davenport came in at #23 in this year's ranking. More on La James International College Davenport
La James International College Ft Dodge placed #24 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. Read the full report on La James International College Ft Dodge
Mercy St Lukes School Of Radiologic Technology came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mercy St Lukes School Of Radiologic Technology
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Iowa
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Mercy College Of Health Sciences ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Mercy College Of Health Sciences profile
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar landed the #27 spot in Iowa this year. Read the full report on Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar
Wartburg College
Wartburg College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read more about Wartburg College
Iowa Western Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Iowa Western Community College
Capri College Davenport ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Capri College Davenport
Marshalltown Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Marshalltown Community College
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #32 spot in Iowa this year. More on North Iowa Area Community College
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Des Moines Area Community College
St Lukes College
St Lukes College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full St Lukes College report
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #35 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. Read more about Western Iowa Tech Community College
Central College
Central College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Central College
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School
Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center landed the #38 spot in Iowa this year. See the full Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center profile
Hawkeye Community College did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Hawkeye Community College profile
Iowa Lakes Community College did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Iowa Lakes Community College
Pci Academy Iowa City placed #41 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. More on Pci Academy Iowa City
Coe College
Coe College did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Coe College
The Salon Professional Academy Cedar Falls ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full The Salon Professional Academy Cedar Falls report
Capri College Cedar Rapids ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Capri College Cedar Rapids
Carlson College Of Massage Therapy placed #45 among Graduate Degrees schools in Iowa. Get the full Carlson College Of Massage Therapy report
Iowa School Of Beauty Des Moines did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on Iowa School Of Beauty Des Moines
Hamilton Technical College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Hamilton Technical College profile
Maharishi University Of Management came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Maharishi University Of Management
Faust Institute Of Cosmetology Spirit Lake landed the #49 spot in Iowa this year. See the full Faust Institute Of Cosmetology Spirit Lake profile
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 69 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 75 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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