Best colleges for Psychology in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Upper Iowa University, Coe College and Buena Vista University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Upper Iowa University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,183, College Scorecard. Iowa State University, Upper Iowa University and University of Northern Iowa award the most Psychology degrees in Iowa: 218, 105 and 98 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Iowa colleges offer Psychology and award 1,018 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
Top 10 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 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,183 | 105 | 34% | $22,697 | $41,478 |
| 2 | Coe College Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,072 | 27 | 66% | $18,153 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,559 | 20 | 62% | $17,609 | $32,500 |
| 4 | William Penn University Oskaloosa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,122 | 33 | 33% | $21,533 | $27,443 |
| 5 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,709 | 32 | 54% | $20,840 | $28,200 |
| 6 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,155 | 218 | 75% | — | $23,121 |
| 7 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,673 | 98 | 68% | — | $22,500 |
| 8 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,627 | 38 | 61% | $21,680 | $25,190 |
| 9 | Loras College Dubuque Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,564 | 21 | 68% | $19,227 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Waldorf University Forest City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,193 | 80 | 21% | $22,328 | $29,136 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology 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 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 218 | $34,155 |
| 2 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit | 105 | $42,183 |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 98 | $32,673 |
| 4 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 5 | Drake University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 41 | Not reported |
| 6 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport Private not-for-profit | 38 | $32,627 |
| 7 | William Penn University Oskaloosa Private not-for-profit | 33 | $35,122 |
| 8 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 32 | $34,709 |
| 9 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 10 | Coe College Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit | 27 | $37,072 |
ShowHide the other 26 Iowa colleges offering Psychology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf University | Forest City | Private not-for-profit | 80 |
| Loras College | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Public | 19 |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Public | 19 |
| Wartburg College | Waverly | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Central College | Pella | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Public | 12 |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Northwestern College | Orange City | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | 9 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Public | 9 |
| Simpson College | Indianola | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Public | 9 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Public | 8 |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | 7 |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston | Public | 4 |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 2 |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | Public | 2 |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
Iowa State University (218 graduates a year), Upper Iowa University (105 graduates a year) and University of Northern Iowa (98 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Iowa colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Upper Iowa University leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,183, College Scorecard. Coe College and Buena Vista University follow. By degrees awarded, Iowa State University is the largest, with 218 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Upper Iowa University tops the list at $42,183. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Iowa is $104,130 (median $91,690), across about 440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Psychology program?+
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+
The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card