2023 Best Nursing Schools in Iowa
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. This report analyzed 31 schools in Iowa to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Luther College the best school in Iowa for nursing students working on their degree.
Degree recipients from Luther accumulate an average of $25,246 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $283 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Luther graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,469 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, NWC graduates make an average of $42,021 annually.
The excellent programs at University of Iowa helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Iowa.
On average, students take out $23,563 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $379. During the early years of their career, Iowa graduates make an average of $50,430 annually.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Graceland University - Lamoni is a great place for nursing students.
On average, students take out $27,121 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $180, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Graceland Lamoni graduates make an average of $54,336 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Dordt University is a great place for nursing students.
During the early years of their career, Dordt graduates make an average of $48,809 annually.
Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,283 in student loans.After graduating from NICC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,089 during the early years of their career.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,244 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $401 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, St. Ambrose University graduates make an average of $50,094 annually.
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,157 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, North Iowa Area Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,111 during the early year of their career.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list.
Degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College accumulate an average of $14,142 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Western Iowa Tech Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,155 during the early years of their career.
Morningside College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking.
Degree recipients from Morningside accumulate an average of $26,099 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $208, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Morningside graduates make an average of $51,189 annually.
Upper Iowa University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list.
Degree recipients from UIU accumulate an average of $34,092 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UIU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,288 during the early year of their career.
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list.
On average, students take out $15,751 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Northwest Iowa Community College graduates make an average of $48,199 annually.
Iowa State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list.
Degree recipients from Iowa State accumulate an average of $23,598 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $257. During the early years of their career, Iowa State graduates make an average of $48,142 annually.
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,577 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $64. Once they receive their degree, DMACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,576 during the early year of their career.
Southeastern Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,654 in student loans.After graduating from Southeastern Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,945 during the early years of their career.
Iowa Central Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list.
On average, students take out $19,575 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $62 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Iowa Central Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,705 during the early year of their career.
Mount Mercy University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,114 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $289. Once they receive their degree, Mount Mercy graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,158 during the early year of their career.
Hawkeye Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking.
Degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College accumulate an average of $19,679 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Hawkeye Community College graduates make an average of $38,877 annually.
With a ranking of #19, Briar Cliff University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Briar Cliff accumulate an average of $23,123 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Briar Cliff graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,310 during the early year of their career.
University of Dubuque did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,068 in student loans.After graduating from UD, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,274 during the early years of their career.
Iowa Western Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list.
On average, students take out $18,104 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $97.After graduating from Iowa Western Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,271 during the early years of their career.
Grand View University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list.
On average, students take out $29,831 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $196, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Grand View University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,475 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College accumulate an average of $19,882 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $59. Once they receive their degree, Kirkwood Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,090 during the early year of their career.
Marshalltown Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list.
Degree recipients from Marshalltown Community College accumulate an average of $18,972 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Marshalltown Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,535 during the early year of their career.
Coe College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list.
Degree recipients from Coe accumulate an average of $25,555 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $338 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Coe, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,874 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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