Compare 9 Social Work. programs in Iowa. Average earnings: $38,786.
With top graduates earning $46,843, Social Work stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $8K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The data puts University of Iowa first, with Social Work graduates earning $46,843 compared to the state average of $38,786. Mount Mercy University follows at $44,621, while Briar Cliff University rounds out the top three at $42,935—demonstrating that program outcomes vary significantly across Iowa's 9 ranked programs.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Iowa graduates borrow $22,500 and face a 12.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. When parent loans are included, University of Northern Iowa leads with a 28.4% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of IowaPublic | $46,843 | 54 | $22,500 | Manageable | $27,975 | High |
| #2 | Mount Mercy UniversityPrivate | $44,621 | 11 | $23,699 | Manageable | $19,951 | High |
| #3 | Briar Cliff UniversityPrivate | $42,935 | 42 | $23,250 | Manageable | $19,260 | High |
| #4 | $41,868 | 72 | $19,691 | Manageable | $17,670 | High | |
| #5 | Luther CollegePrivate | $41,186 | 12 | $27,000 | Challenging | $40,923 | High |
| #6 | Grand View UniversityPrivate | $40,736 | 15 | $22,500 | Manageable | $20,398 | High |
| #7 | Wartburg CollegePrivate | $33,904 | 9 | $27,000 | High | $27,152 | High |
| #8 | Buena Vista UniversityPrivate | $28,598 | 7 | $25,000 | High | $12,074 | High |
| #9 | Dordt UniversityPrivate | $28,381 | 14 | $21,500 | High | $18,000 | 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 →
