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 analysis found Luther College to be the best school for nursing students in Iowa. Located in Decorah, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 499 degrees in 2021-2022.
If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $391, assuming you 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.
Out of the 31 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Orange City, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 523 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from NWC accumulate an average of $14,315 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from NWC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,021 during the early years of their career.
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. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 9,271 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,206 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $387.After graduating from Iowa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,430 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 31 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Graceland University - Lamoni landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 459 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Graceland Lamoni accumulate an average of $30,887 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Graceland Lamoni graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,336 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Dordt University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Iowa. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 438 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,895 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Dordt, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,809 during the early years of their career.
Northeast Iowa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Calmar, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 596 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,670 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, NICC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,089 during the early year of their career.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list. St. Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 931 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $45,191 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $512, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from St. Ambrose University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,094 during the early years of their career.
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Mason City, Iowa, the small public school awarded 903 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,264 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, North Iowa Area Community College graduates make an average of $37,111 annually.
Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 1,848 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College accumulate an average of $11,311 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates make an average of $31,155 annually.
Morningside College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 628 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,475 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $255 if they 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. Fayette, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,328 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $30,575 in loans while pursuing 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 landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Sheldon, Iowa, the small public school handed out 356 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Northwest Iowa Community College accumulate an average of $9,876 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Northwest Iowa Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,199 during the early years of their career.
Iowa State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, the large public school handed out 8,469 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,658 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $315 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Iowa State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,142 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This large public school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 4,028 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from DMACC accumulate an average of $11,831 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 $95 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, DMACC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,576 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Southeastern Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This small public school is located in West Burlington, Iowa, and it awarded 767 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Southeastern Community College accumulate an average of $14,116 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.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 landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,134 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,754 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $68 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Iowa Central Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,705 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Mount Mercy University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 590 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Mount Mercy accumulate an average of $25,331 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $252, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Mount Mercy graduates make an average of $45,158 annually.
Hawkeye Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Waterloo, Iowa, the small public school awarded 925 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,143 in student loans.After graduating from Hawkeye Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,877 during the early years of their career.
Briar Cliff University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 273 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Briar Cliff accumulate an average of $52,754 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Briar Cliff graduates make an average of $46,310 annually.
University of Dubuque ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Iowa list. UD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 582 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UD accumulate an average of $33,985 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.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. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Council Bluffs, Iowa that handed out 1,407 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College accumulate an average of $13,979 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $118, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.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 landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 527 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,487 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $201 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Grand View University graduates make an average of $39,475 annually.
Kirkwood Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 2,365 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College accumulate an average of $15,926 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 $68 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Kirkwood Community College graduates make an average of $38,090 annually.
With a ranking of #24, Marshalltown Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Marshalltown, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 435 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Marshalltown Community College accumulate an average of $13,245 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.
With a ranking of #25, Coe College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it awarded 434 degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $462 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Coe graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,874 during the early year 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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