Best value colleges for Mechanical Engineering in Iowa.2026 Rankings
Iowa is home to 5 accredited institutions offering Mechanical Engineering programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, William Penn University is the most selective, admitting 57% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $24,354, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $32,184. Median early-career earnings for Mechanical Engineering graduates in this state average $53,967 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 61%.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of IowaPublic | Strong· 36 | 85% | 73% | $20,136 | $71,732 | 15:1 | 83 | 21,691 |
| 2 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 89% | 75% | $15,430 | $72,900 | 18:1 | 96 | 25,033 |
| 3 | Saint Ambrose UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 73% | 63% | $20,111 | $73,622 | 11:1 | 55 | 2,101 |
| 4 | Dordt UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 71% | 65% | $23,110 | $46,256 | 14:1 | 87 | 1,547 |
| 5 | William Penn UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 57% | 29% | $21,898 | $40,662 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,391 |