Best Colleges for Nursing in Iowa
The best colleges for a Nursing degree in Iowa, led by University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Saint Ambrose University. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Nursing programs side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college for Nursing in Iowa?
Based on our rankings, University of Iowa is the top-ranked college for Nursing in Iowa. Other top choices include Iowa State University, Saint Ambrose University, Morningside University.
What are the best Nursing schools?
The best Nursing schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Saint Ambrose University. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.
How much does it cost to study Nursing?
The average out-of-state tuition among top Nursing programs is approximately $38,173 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.
How long does it take to get a Nursing degree?
A bachelor's degree in Nursing typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.
How are these Nursing rankings determined?
Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.
Career outcomes for Nursing graduates
Among the top 10 ranked Nursing programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $58,171 per year. Below are the highest-paying Nursing programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, IA · $64,762/yr (rank #1)
- Iowa State University — Ames, IA · $63,386/yr (rank #2)
- Mount Mercy University — Cedar Rapids, IA · $60,787/yr (rank #3)
- Luther College — Decorah, IA · $59,850/yr (rank #4)
- Saint Ambrose University — Davenport, IA · $59,531/yr (rank #5)
- 1. University of Iowa — Iowa City, IA · 83.6% acceptance · SAT 1,200 · $33,371 tuition · 75% grad rate
- 2. Iowa State University — Ames, IA · 88.7% acceptance · SAT 1,204 · $28,881 tuition · 75% grad rate
- 3. Saint Ambrose University — Davenport, IA · 77.3% acceptance · SAT 1,093 · $36,658 tuition · 61% grad rate
- 4. Morningside University — Sioux City, IA · 71% acceptance · $39,660 tuition · 50% grad rate
- 5. Luther College — Decorah, IA · 71.5% acceptance · SAT 1,218 · $52,120 tuition · 71% grad rate
- 6. Coe College — Cedar Rapids, IA · 64% acceptance · SAT 1,223 · $54,666 tuition · 66% grad rate
- 7. Mount Mercy University — Cedar Rapids, IA · 82.5% acceptance · $40,878 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 8. Dordt University — Sioux Center, IA · 68.5% acceptance · SAT 1,221 · $37,050 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 9. Clarke University — Dubuque, IA · 71.8% acceptance · SAT 1,054 · $40,910 tuition · 56% grad rate
- 10. Grand View University — Des Moines, IA · 99.1% acceptance · $34,762 tuition · 54% grad rate
- 11. Graceland University-Lamoni — Lamoni, IA · 80.8% acceptance · $20,950 tuition · 42% grad rate
Best Colleges for Nursing in Iowa on PickACampus