Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Program Rankings · Iowa

Best Health Professions & Nursing Colleges in Iowa

Ranked by a weighted composite of outcomes, affordability, selectivity, academic profile, and program depth. Based on NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data.

46
Colleges Ranked
30
4-Year Programs
19
Public Colleges
Orion Technical
Top Ranked
Ranking Methodology: Each college earns a major score = 70% global composite score (outcomes 30%, affordability 25%, selectivity 20%, academic 15%, breadth 10%) + 30% program depth score (graduates in this major ÷ total enrollment, normalized across all US colleges).
1
62
Orion Technical College
Davenport · Private For-Profit · 4-year
100% grad rate3 graduates/yr
#94 nationally
2
60
Simpson College
Indianola · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
89% accept66% grad rate102 graduates/yr
#129 nationally
3
56
Loras College
Dubuque · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
92% accept70% grad rate21 graduates/yr
#249 nationally
#4
55
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny · Public · 2-year
$5,550 in-state660 graduates/yr
#369 nationally
#5
54
Eastern Iowa Community College District
Davenport · Public · 2-year
$4,680 in-state546 graduates/yr
#645 nationally
#6
54
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids · Public · 2-year
$5,880 in-state1,053 graduates/yr
#491 nationally
#7
54
Northwestern College
Orange City · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
87% accept64% grad rate72 graduates/yr
#492 nationally
#8
53
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
49% grad rate90 graduates/yr
#909 nationally
#9
53
Grand View University
Des Moines · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
98% accept56% grad rate165 graduates/yr
#903 nationally
#10
53
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo · Public · 2-year
$6,119 in-state300 graduates/yr
#904 nationally
#11
53
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge · Public · 2-year
$4,800 in-state423 graduates/yr
#906 nationally
#12
53
Iowa State University
Ames · Public · 4-year
89% accept75% grad rate$8,982 in-state189 graduates/yr
#910 nationally
#13
53
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs · Public · 2-year
$6,270 in-state378 graduates/yr
#911 nationally
#14
53
University of Iowa
Iowa City · Public · 4-year
85% accept73% grad rate$9,016 in-state1,440 graduates/yr
#912 nationally
#15
53
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar · Public · 2-year
$5,850 in-state297 graduates/yr
#913 nationally
About Health Professions & Nursing Programs in Iowa

Iowa offers 46 accredited health professions & nursing programs across public and private institutions. Our rankings use NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data to measure how many graduates each college produces in this field relative to its total enrollment, combined with overall college quality metrics.

The ranking formula weights overall college quality at 70% — covering graduation outcomes, net price affordability, admissions selectivity, and academic profile of enrolled students — and program-specific depth at 30%, rewarding schools that genuinely specialize in health professions & nursing.

For in-state students, public colleges often offer significantly lower costs. Complete the FAFSA to determine need-based aid eligibility regardless of your income level. Aid availability can dramatically change the actual cost of attendance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our composite ranking — which weighs outcomes (graduation rates), affordability (net price), selectivity, academic profile, and program depth — the top-ranked college for Health Professions & Nursing in Iowa is Orion Technical College. We rank all accredited institutions offering this program using NCES IPEDS 2023–24 data.

Explore Other Majors in Iowa