Main College Cost Directory 2026
U.S. College Cost Directory
Use this directory as the main starting point for comparing U.S. colleges by tuition, total cost, net price, median earnings, graduation rate, and value score.
Interactive Table
Search inside the table, click any column heading to sort, and open individual college profiles for more detail.
| University | Location | Type | Total Cost | Net Price | Median Earnings | Graduation Rate | Value Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA | Public | $24,018 | $18,589 | $63,386 | 75.3% | Value Score = earnings 25.4 + graduation 18.8 + net price 8.8 + total cost 7.0 + debt 4.6 = 64.6/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | Public | $28,596 | $22,531 | $64,762 | 74.6% | Value Score = earnings 25.9 + graduation 18.7 + net price 7.5 + total cost 6.4 + debt 4.8 = 63.3/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA | Private Nonprofit | $83,440 | $17,648 | $62,830 | 88.1% | Value Score = earnings 25.1 + graduation 22.0 + net price 9.1 + total cost 0.0 + debt 6.0 = 62.2/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA | Public | $22,278 | $15,901 | $55,177 | 67.9% | Value Score = earnings 22.1 + graduation 17.0 + net price 9.7 + total cost 7.2 + debt 5.3 = 61.3/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines, IA | Private Nonprofit | $34,398 | $26,924 | $62,234 | 65.5% | Value Score = earnings 24.9 + graduation 16.4 + net price 6.0 + total cost 5.7 + debt 6.4 = 59.4/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Drake University | Des Moines, IA | Private Nonprofit | $64,835 | $29,127 | $71,901 | 74% | Value Score = earnings 28.8 + graduation 18.5 + net price 5.3 + total cost 1.9 + debt 4.4 = 58.9/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Loras College | Dubuque, IA | Private Nonprofit | $50,537 | $20,716 | $58,289 | 67.6% | Value Score = earnings 23.3 + graduation 16.9 + net price 8.1 + total cost 3.7 + debt 4.4 = 56.4/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary | Ankeny, IA | Private Nonprofit | $32,722 | $16,282 | $40,650 | 67.5% | Value Score = earnings 16.3 + graduation 16.9 + net price 9.6 + total cost 5.9 + debt 7.5 = 56.1/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids, IA | Private Nonprofit | $55,054 | $20,168 | $60,787 | 57.7% | Value Score = earnings 24.3 + graduation 14.4 + net price 8.3 + total cost 3.1 + debt 4.7 = 54.9/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Central College | Pella, IA | Private Nonprofit | $37,773 | $23,377 | $54,317 | 66.2% | Value Score = earnings 21.7 + graduation 16.5 + net price 7.2 + total cost 5.3 + debt 4.1 = 54.8/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Luther College | Decorah, IA | Private Nonprofit | $65,461 | $23,097 | $59,850 | 71.1% | Value Score = earnings 23.9 + graduation 17.8 + net price 7.3 + total cost 1.8 + debt 3.7 = 54.5/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, IA | Private Nonprofit | $51,141 | $24,691 | $59,531 | 61% | Value Score = earnings 23.8 + graduation 15.3 + net price 6.8 + total cost 3.6 + debt 4.4 = 53.9/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids, IA | Private Nonprofit | $67,372 | $18,745 | $57,125 | 65.9% | Value Score = earnings 22.9 + graduation 16.5 + net price 8.8 + total cost 1.6 + debt 4.1 = 53.8/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Simpson College | Indianola, IA | Private Nonprofit | $61,227 | $21,936 | $59,274 | 63.3% | Value Score = earnings 23.7 + graduation 15.8 + net price 7.7 + total cost 2.3 + debt 4.2 = 53.8/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center, IA | Private Nonprofit | $51,733 | $25,807 | $52,559 | 70.1% | Value Score = earnings 21.0 + graduation 17.5 + net price 6.4 + total cost 3.5 + debt 5.0 = 53.5/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake, IA | Private Nonprofit | $54,222 | $18,846 | $49,156 | 61.7% | Value Score = earnings 19.7 + graduation 15.4 + net price 8.7 + total cost 3.2 + debt 5.0 = 52.0/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Grand View University | Des Moines, IA | Private Nonprofit | $48,522 | $21,774 | $52,824 | 54% | Value Score = earnings 21.1 + graduation 13.5 + net price 7.7 + total cost 3.9 + debt 5.7 = 52.0/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Northwestern College | Orange City, IA | Private Nonprofit | $49,783 | $25,907 | $49,802 | 66.1% | Value Score = earnings 19.9 + graduation 16.5 + net price 6.4 + total cost 3.8 + debt 5.2 = 51.8/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Clarke University | Dubuque, IA | Private Nonprofit | $55,782 | $24,479 | $55,396 | 56.1% | Value Score = earnings 22.2 + graduation 14.0 + net price 6.8 + total cost 3.0 + debt 4.4 = 50.5/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, IA | Private Nonprofit | $51,493 | $23,907 | $54,475 | 47.5% | Value Score = earnings 21.8 + graduation 11.9 + net price 7.0 + total cost 3.6 + debt 5.6 = 49.8/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon, IA | Private Nonprofit | $66,249 | $23,634 | $53,460 | 61.8% | Value Score = earnings 21.4 + graduation 15.5 + net price 7.1 + total cost 1.7 + debt 3.9 = 49.5/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Wartburg College | Waverly, IA | Private Nonprofit | $64,359 | $32,908 | $56,201 | 64.3% | Value Score = earnings 22.5 + graduation 16.1 + net price 4.0 + total cost 2.0 + debt 4.4 = 49.0/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | Private Nonprofit | $52,577 | $31,320 | $55,494 | 50.1% | Value Score = earnings 22.2 + graduation 12.5 + net price 4.6 + total cost 3.4 + debt 5.5 = 48.2/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | Private Nonprofit | $34,022 | $20,942 | $52,766 | 33.9% | Value Score = earnings 21.1 + graduation 8.5 + net price 8.0 + total cost 5.7 + debt 4.9 = 48.2/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | Lamoni, IA | Private Nonprofit | $48,294 | $18,504 | $47,361 | 42% | Value Score = earnings 18.9 + graduation 10.5 + net price 8.8 + total cost 4.0 + debt 5.9 = 48.2/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Maharishi International University | Fairfield, IA | Private Nonprofit | $27,892 | $14,956 | $27,981 | 50% | Value Score = earnings 11.2 + graduation 12.5 + net price 10.0 + total cost 6.5 + debt 6.7 = 46.9/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa, IA | Private Nonprofit | $42,874 | $22,601 | $48,936 | 32.6% | Value Score = earnings 19.6 + graduation 8.2 + net price 7.5 + total cost 4.6 + debt 6.6 = 46.4/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | Private Nonprofit | $53,806 | $23,386 | $51,190 | 40.1% | Value Score = earnings 20.5 + graduation 10.0 + net price 7.2 + total cost 3.3 + debt 5.1 = 46.1/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
| Waldorf University | Forest City, IA | Private Nonprofit | $39,675 | $19,693 | $51,165 | 21.1% | Value Score = earnings 20.5 + graduation 5.3 + net price 8.4 + total cost 5.0 + debt 6.6 = 45.8/100. Uses median earnings, graduation rate, net price, total cost, and median debt. |
How to Use This Page
- Start with the search box if you already know a college name.
- Use the sort dropdown to change the default ranking method.
- Click a college name to open the profile page with charts and budget tools.
Method Notes
Use the table as a starting point, then review each college profile for cost, net price, earnings, debt, graduation rate, and fit.
Figures are designed for comparison and may not match a student’s final bill. Residency, aid eligibility, housing, program fees, course load, and family income can change the real cost.