Compare 11 Public Finance. programs in Iowa. Average earnings: $63,549.
With top graduates earning $81,311, Public Finance stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Drake University's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $81,311, well above the $63,549 average across 11 Iowa programs. The University of Iowa follows at $76,298, while Buena Vista University rounds out the top three at $65,642—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Drake graduates borrow $23,000 and face just a 5.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Drake UniversityPrivate | $81,311 | 39 | $23,000 | Excellent | $26,000 | Manageable |
| #2 | University Of IowaPublic | $76,298 | 410 | $22,500 | Excellent | $27,975 | Manageable |
| #3 | Buena Vista UniversityPrivate | $65,642 | 30 | $25,000 | Excellent | $12,074 | Manageable |
| #4 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $64,793 | 254 | $22,869 | Excellent | $25,950 | Manageable |
| #5 | Loras CollegePrivate | $63,016 | 20 | $26,000 | Good | $30,983 | Challenging |
| #6 | $62,693 | 137 | $19,691 | Excellent | $17,670 | Manageable | |
| #7 | Saint Ambrose UniversityPrivate | $61,730 | 17 | $25,000 | Good | $30,948 | Challenging |
| #8 | Mount Mercy UniversityPrivate | $59,136 | 26 | $23,699 | Good | $19,951 | Manageable |
| #9 | Grand View UniversityPrivate | $56,567 | 30 | $22,500 | Good | $20,398 | Challenging |
| #10 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | $55,214 | 33 | $25,000 | Good | $14,000 | Manageable |
| #11 | Dordt UniversityPrivate | $52,640 | 14 | $21,500 | Good | $18,000 | Challenging |
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 →
