Compare 24 Montessori Teacher Education. programs in Iowa. Average earnings: $42,001.
With top graduates earning $46,094, Montessori Teacher Education stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $4K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Drake University's Montessori Teacher Education program leads with graduates earning $46,094, closely followed by University of Iowa at $45,931. The average across all 24 Iowa programs is $42,001, demonstrating that regional publics like Iowa compete directly with private institutions while often delivering better financial value.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Iowa graduates borrow $22,500 and face just a 13.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. That means loan payments take a reasonable bite out of their post-grad income, making it the smartest choice for debt-conscious students.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Drake UniversityPrivate | $46,094 | 21 | $23,000 | Manageable | $26,000 | High |
| #2 | University Of IowaPublic | $45,931 | 114 | $22,500 | Manageable | $27,975 | High |
| #3 | Wartburg CollegePrivate | $45,894 | 17 | $27,000 | Manageable | $27,152 | High |
| #4 | Grand View UniversityPrivate | $44,928 | 29 | $22,500 | Manageable | $20,398 | High |
| #5 | Mount Mercy UniversityPrivate | $44,720 | 27 | $23,699 | Manageable | $19,951 | High |
| #6 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $44,376 | 199 | $22,869 | Manageable | $25,950 | High |
| #7 | Saint Ambrose UniversityPrivate | $43,459 | 18 | $25,000 | Manageable | $30,948 | High |
| #8 | Central CollegePrivate | $43,145 | 20 | $26,984 | Manageable | $39,100 | High |
| #9 | Morningside UniversityPrivate | $43,020 | 26 | $26,028 | Manageable | $14,032 | High |
| #10 | $42,919 | 380 | $19,691 | Manageable | $17,670 | High | |
| #11 | Cornell CollegePrivate | $42,577 | 25 | $27,000 | Challenging | $46,564 | High |
| #12 | Northwestern CollegePrivate | $42,441 | 48 | $23,249 | Manageable | $18,000 | High |
| #13 | Coe CollegePrivate | $42,235 | 9 | $27,000 | Challenging | $30,674 | High |
| #14 | Clarke UniversityPrivate | $42,204 | 19 | $26,717 | Challenging | $33,000 | High |
| #15 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | $42,066 | 66 | $25,000 | Manageable | $14,000 | High |
| #16 | University Of DubuquePrivate | $41,888 | 16 | $25,750 | Challenging | $21,000 | High |
| #17 | Simpson CollegePrivate | $40,987 | 14 | $26,000 | Challenging | $23,702 | High |
| #18 | Luther CollegePrivate | $40,953 | 18 | $27,000 | Challenging | $40,923 | High |
| #19 | William Penn UniversityPrivate | $40,049 | 34 | $22,415 | Manageable | $15,943 | High |
| #20 | Buena Vista UniversityPrivate | $39,878 | 58 | $25,000 | Challenging | $12,074 | High |
| #21 | Dordt UniversityPrivate | $39,197 | 79 | $21,500 | Manageable | $18,000 | High |
| #22 | Loras CollegePrivate | $37,734 | 30 | $26,000 | Challenging | $30,983 | High |
| #23 | Graceland University-LamoniPrivate | $35,908 | 37 | $21,212 | Challenging | $16,646 | High |
| #24 | Briar Cliff UniversityPrivate | $35,416 | 15 | $23,250 | Challenging | $19,260 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
