Head-to-head comparison
University of Iowa vs Drake University: which has better ROI?
Option A Iowa City, IA
University of Iowa
- Net price / year
- $22,531
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,762
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Option B Des Moines, IA
Drake University
- Net price / year
- $29,127
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,901
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Drake University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,508 in 4.9 years versus 5.5 years at University of Iowa, on median earnings of $71,901 vs $64,762 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Iowa | Drake University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,531 | $29,127 |
| Total net cost | $90,124 | $116,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,762 | $71,901 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 4.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $237,916 | $354,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Iowa or Drake University?
University of Iowa, at $22,531 a year after aid versus $29,127 — a gap of $6,596 a year, or $26,384 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Iowa or Drake University graduates earn more?
Drake University graduates report a median $71,901 ten years after entry, $7,139 more than the $64,762 at University of Iowa. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Iowa or Drake University?
University of Iowa: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Drake University, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at University of Iowa, against 74% at Drake University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.