Iowa · Registered Nursing

Best Registered Nursing institutions in Iowa, ranked by earnings

The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…

Institutions
35
offering CIP 51.38
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,743
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$69,368
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
32
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,731
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Registered Nurses
$77,780
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Luther College
Decorah Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$75,5334671%$22,827$27,000
2Dordt University
Sioux Center Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,6801970%$24,569$24,500
3Northwestern College
Orange City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,4793066%$22,419$27,000
4St Luke's College
Sioux City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,06460100%$15,221$29,000
5Upper Iowa University
Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,2244634%$22,697$35,004
6University of Iowa
Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree
$69,36831075%$24,811
7Morningside University
Sioux City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$68,3975950%$22,816$28,000
8Coe College
Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$67,7691966%$18,153$27,000
9Graceland University - Lamoni
Lamoni Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$66,95516142%$16,430$30,754
10Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$66,6478158%$23,054$27,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.9%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~189,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$93,600
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringWriting

What Registered Nurses earn in Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
33,480
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$77,780
median $76,960
Best-paying metro
$82,240
Iowa City, IA

Related careers

Registered Nurses
$77,780 avg · 33,480 jobs
Medical and Health Services Managers
$113,630 avg · 6,530 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
$133,020 avg · 2,810 jobs
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
$73,820 avg · 800 jobs
Nurse Anesthetists
$245,780 avg · 580 jobs
Nurse Midwives
$149,040 avg · 70 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Iowa.

Which Registered Nursing program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Luther College tops the list at $75,533. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Registered Nurses earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Iowa is $77,780 (median $76,960), across about 33,480 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+

The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+

The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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