Sioux City, Iowa Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Sioux City, Iowa shows: median public in-state tuition $30,566 (+454.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,984 (+1.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 95.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S.) 4,668 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 4,668 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $30,566 (+454.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,984 (+1.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 95.1% (+7.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,820 (+98.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 50.1%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 69.2%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Sioux City, Iowa—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Iowa and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Sioux City vs Iowa & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, Iowa | $30,566 | $19,820 | $15,000 | 50.1% | 4,668 |
| Iowa (state median) | $6,525 | $11,272 | $14,745 | 63.1% | 134,174 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Sioux City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, Iowa | $54,984 | 95.1% | 69.2% | 4.0% | — | 83.2% | 0.45 |
| Iowa (state median) | $55,286 | 94.0% | 75.8% | 3.7% | — | 82.3% | 0.44 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Iowa (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, Iowa | $30,566 | $19,820 | $15,000 | 50.1% | 4,668 | $54,984 | 95.1% |
| Cedar Rapids | $40,878 | $17,643 | $17,850 | 61.8% | 10,012 | $58,956 | 94.9% |
| Cedar Falls | $9,936 | $15,901 | $16,096 | 67.9% | 7,674 | $55,177 | 95.2% |
| Davenport | $15,600 | $19,034 | $9,500 | 70.8% | 5,824 | $59,531 | 94.1% |
| Des Moines | $34,762 | $24,349 | $18,622 | 65.5% | 4,986 | $62,234 | 92.4% |
| Dubuque | $40,367 | $20,716 | $25,750 | 61.9% | 3,654 | $55,396 | 95.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 50.1%, Morningside University
Morningside University
-
Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 47.5%, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 95.5%, Morningside University
Morningside University
-
Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 94.8%, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Sioux City, Iowa (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
-
Rank 1, Admission Rate, 71.0%, Morningside University
Morningside University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $68,397, Morningside University
Morningside University
-
Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $55,784, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $84,033, Morningside University
Morningside University
-
Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $63,150, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,338, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
-
Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,687, Morningside University
Morningside University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,373, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
-
Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,866, Morningside University
Morningside University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,494, Morningside University
Morningside University
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,475, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $149,016, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
-
Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $140,658, Morningside University
Morningside University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Sioux City, Iowa (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $23,907, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
-
Rank 2, Net Price, $31,320, Morningside University
Morningside University
Top 10 colleges in Sioux City, Iowa by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 74.2%, Morningside University
Morningside University
-
Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 64.2%, Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University
In-state tuition: Sioux City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Sioux City, Iowa median in-state tuition is $30,566, +454.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Sioux City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Sioux City, Iowa is $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Sioux City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Sioux City, Iowa center around $54,984 (+1.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Sioux City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 95.1% at the median Sioux City, Iowa campus (+7.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Sioux City, Iowa median public in-state tuition is $30,566, about +454.5% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +391.0%.
Median graduate debt is $15,000 (+11.7% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Sioux City, Iowa are $54,984, about +1.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 95.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+7.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 69.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Morningside University (95.5%), Briar Cliff University (94.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Sioux City, Iowa is 50.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Sioux City?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in Sioux City, Iowa with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Sioux City?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Sioux City is $30,566 and median net price is $19,820. For Iowa overall, medians are $6,525 and $11,272; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Sioux City?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Sioux City is $54,984 vs $55,286 for Iowa and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Sioux City colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Sioux City is $15,000 vs $14,745 for Iowa and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Sioux City?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Morningside University (graduation) and Morningside University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Sioux City?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 campuses in Sioux City, Iowa, 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1), United Methodist (1), Other Protestant (1).
Sources & related
- Iowa college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON