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Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa

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2023 Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

12 Schools Ranked
$26,711 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$26,017 Avg Student Debt*

Today's computer science students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Computer Science Degree Search has created its Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa ranking. Our analysis looked at 12 schools in Iowa to see which programs offered the best value experiences for computer science students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

30 Total Awards
$6,000 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Indian Hills Community College to be the best value school for computer science students in Iowa. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

IHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $17,709 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, IHCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,385 during the early year of their career.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, IHCC is ranked #1 for overall quality in Iowa.

Full Indian Hills Community College Report

152 Total Awards
$10,440 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Des Moines Area Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value computer science schools in Iowa. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 152 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at DMACC are $10,440 a year. On average, students take out $16,577 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $64, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, DMACC graduates make an average of $37,576 annually.

DMACC also took the #2 spot in our Best Computer Science Schools in Iowa rankings.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Report

#3

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, Iowa
24 Total Awards
$8,650 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Iowa Central Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa list. Iowa Central Community College is a public institution located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 24 degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,650 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $19,575 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $62. 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.

Read full report on Iowa Central Community College

#4

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
134 Total Awards
$7,072 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the fairly large public school awarded 134 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Kirkwood Community College are $7,072 a year. On average, students take out $19,882 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $59.After graduating from Kirkwood Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,090 during the early years of their career.

Full Kirkwood Community College Report

#5

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa
539 Total Awards
$25,446 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Iowa State University is a great place for computer science students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 539 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Iowa State are $25,446 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,598 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $257, assuming you 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.

Iowa State also took the #4 spot in our Best Computer Science Schools in Iowa rankings.

Full Iowa State University Report

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
187 Total Awards
$31,905 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa ranking. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 187 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Iowa are $31,905 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,563 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $379 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Iowa graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,430 during the early year of their career.

Read full report on University of Iowa

#7

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
50 Total Awards
$19,753 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 50 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

UNI undergraduate students pay an average of $19,753 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $22,939 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $172. Once they receive their degree, UNI graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,810 during the early year of their career.

Full University of Northern Iowa Report

#8

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
17 Total Awards
$44,030 Average Tuition & Fees

Simpson College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianola, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Simpson College are $44,030 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $26,958 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Simpson College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,402 during the early years of their career.

Simpson College also took the #5 spot in our Best Computer Science Schools in Iowa rankings.

Read full report on Simpson College

322 Total Awards
$16,530 Average Tuition & Fees

Maharishi International University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value computer science programs. Located in Fairfield, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 322 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MIU are $16,530 a year. During the early years of their career, MIU graduates make an average of $109,488 annually.

Read full report on Maharishi International University

#10

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
32 Total Awards
$46,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Luther College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa ranking. Luther is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Luther are $46,760 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,246 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $283, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Luther graduates make an average of $35,469 annually.

Luther also made our Best Computer Science Schools in Iowa list, coming in at #3.

Read full report on Luther College

#11

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
4 Total Awards
$30,954 Average Tuition & Fees

Grand View University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa list. Grand View University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 4 degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grand View University are $30,954 per year. On average, students take out $29,831 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $196 if they 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.

Full Grand View University Report

#12

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
29 Total Awards
$36,010 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Dubuque came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Schools in Iowa ranking. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UD are $36,010 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,068 in student loans. During the early years of their career, UD graduates make an average of $39,274 annually.

Read More…

Best Value Computer Science Schools in the Plains States Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

References

  • 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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