Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. University of Iowa leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,791, College Scorecard. University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Iowa: 204, 64 and 50 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Iowa colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 4,504 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,791 | 204 | 75% | — | $25,269 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,009 | 64 | 68% | — | $26,400 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,532 | 47 | 75% | — | $28,623 |
| 4 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,996 | 16 | 54% | $20,840 | $25,973 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville Public · Associate degree | $31,966 | 135 | 50% | — | $11,003 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public · Associate degree | $31,936 | 94 | 50% | — | $14,237 |
| 3 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Associate degree | $31,453 | 834 | 39% | — | $11,000 |
| 4 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Public · Associate degree | $30,321 | 218 | 43% | — | $14,209 |
| 5 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public · Associate degree | $29,838 | 642 | 43% | — | $11,938 |
| 6 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown Public · Associate degree | $29,836 | 129 | 42% | — | $9,960 |
| 7 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Public · Certificate | $29,491 | 127 | 51% | — | $11,821 |
| 8 | Southwestern Community College Creston Public · Associate degree | $28,706 | 94 | 59% | — | $11,000 |
| 9 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public · Associate degree | $28,291 | 267 | 40% | — | $11,193 |
| 10 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public · Associate degree | $27,697 | 308 | 45% | — | $10,875 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Iowa
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public | 204 | $40,791 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 64 | $40,009 |
| 3 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit | 50 | Not reported |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 47 | $36,532 |
| 5 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 16 | $39,996 |
| 6 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 7 | Drake University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 8 | Graceland University - Lamoni Lamoni Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Dubuque Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 10 | Clarke University Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 Iowa colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
University of Iowa (204 graduates a year), University of Northern Iowa (64 graduates a year) and Upper Iowa University (50 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Iowa colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, University of Iowa leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,791, College Scorecard. University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Iowa is the largest, with 204 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Iowa tops the list at $40,791. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Iowa is $71,400 (median $71,680), across about 1,480 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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