Iowa's Public Universities rank 3rd nationally in return on investment

Iowa is one of the best states to be a college student, according to a new study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, a non-partisan think tank. The study, which placed Iowa at number 3 in the nation, ranks the value of state public universities by median return on investment (ROI). 

According to the study, ROI, defined as the amount a student can expect to gain financially from their degree, is the most comprehensive measure of the net financial value that a student can expect from pursuing a degree.
Iowa State’s mechanical engineering program topped the study’s list for degrees in Iowa with the highest ROI. Other valuable, high-enrollment degrees included business, agricultural business, finance, marketing, computer engineering and electrical engineering.

UNI and Iowa have a number of high value majors, and have also launched several new programs to support Iowa. UNI’s signature programs in education, business, accounting and management align with nine out of ten of Iowa’s most in-demand careers. In addition, UNI’s recently announced BSN degree, expected to launch Fall 2024, will help fill the shortage of nurses in health-related fields. 

Read the full study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity