Iowa City, Iowa Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Iowa City, Iowa: median public in-state tuition $11,283 (+104.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $64,762 (+19.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 93.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,164 (+6.7% vs U.S.) 22,377 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 22,377 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $11,283 (+104.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $64,762 (+19.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 93.9% (+5.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $21,734 (+118.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $14,164 (+6.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 74.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 90.4%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Iowa City serve students across Iowa with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 22,377 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,283. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Iowa City, Iowa and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, Iowa | $11,283 | $21,734 | $14,164 | 74.6% | 22,377 |
| Iowa (state median) | $6,525 | $11,272 | $14,745 | 63.0% | 134,174 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, Iowa | $64,762 | 93.9% | 90.4% | 3.3% | — | 79.4% | 0.35 |
| Iowa (state median) | $55,286 | 94.0% | 75.8% | 3.7% | — | 82.3% | 0.44 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, Iowa | $11,283 | $21,734 | $14,164 | 74.6% | 22,377 | $64,762 | 93.9% |
| Ames | $10,787 | $19,561 | $14,348 | 75.3% | 25,543 | $63,386 | 94.9% |
| Ankeny | $13,030 | $13,726 | $11,986 | 67.5% | 10,851 | $40,650 | 88.3% |
| 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% |
| Sioux City | $30,566 | $19,820 | $15,000 | 50.1% | 4,668 | $54,984 | 95.1% |
| Dubuque | $40,367 | $20,716 | $25,750 | 61.9% | 3,654 | $55,396 | 95.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 74.6%, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 93.9%, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Most selective college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 83.6%, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $79,228, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $123,676, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $52,696, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,321, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $64,762, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $184,174, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Most affordable college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $22,531, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Top college in Iowa 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.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.4%, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
In-state tuition: Iowa City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Iowa City, Iowa median in-state tuition is $11,283, +104.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Iowa City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Iowa City, Iowa is $14,164 (+6.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Iowa City, Iowa vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Iowa City, Iowa center around $64,762 (+19.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Iowa 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 93.9% at the median Iowa City, Iowa campus (+5.9 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
Iowa City, Iowa median public in-state tuition is $11,283, about +104.7% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +81.2%.
Median graduate debt is $14,164 (+6.7% above the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Iowa City, Iowa are $64,762, about +19.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 93.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+5.9 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 90.4% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 79.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Iowa (93.9%)—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 Iowa City, Iowa is 74.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Iowa City?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Iowa City, Iowa with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Iowa City?
Median in-state tuition in Iowa City is $11,283 and median net price is $21,734. For Iowa overall, medians are $6,525 and $11,272; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Iowa City?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Iowa City is $64,762 vs $55,286 for Iowa and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Iowa City colleges?
Median completer debt in Iowa City is $14,164 vs $14,745 for Iowa and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Iowa City?
Top campuses on this page include University of Iowa (graduation) and University of Iowa (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Iowa City?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Iowa City, Iowa, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Iowa college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON