Iowa Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Aspiring teachers in Iowa are required to complete a state-approved educator preparation program to qualify for certification. This guide helps future educators explore teaching degree options at accredited Iowa schools. You’ll find a comparison table of approved programs along with a curated list of budget-friendly choices to guide your planning.
Table of Contents
- IA Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 15 Affordable IA Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Iowa Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 27 Iowa teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a nationally respected accreditor whose standards are recognized or accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Iowa traditional certification guide and our Iowa alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates—tuition, books, room and board—minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briar Cliff University | No | 41 | 6 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $22,233 |
| Buena Vista University | No | 572 | 116 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $18,300 |
| Central College | No | 112 | 26 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,690 |
| Clarke University | No | 85 | 20 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $25,756 |
| Coe College | No | 103 | 30 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,155 |
| Cornell College | No | 11 | 10 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $25,028 |
| Dordt College | No | 229 | 50 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $25,982 |
| Drake University | No | 228 | 49 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $30,321 |
| Emmaus Bible College | No | 29 | 4 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $15,696 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College | No | 55 | 7 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,896 |
| Graceland University | No | 112 | 21 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $18,434 |
| Grand View University | No | 42 | 26 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $19,423 |
| Grinnell College | No | 20 | 6 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $32,091 |
| Iowa State University | No | 1037 | 346 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,105 |
| Loras College | No | 73 | 18 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $22,418 |
| Luther College | No | 113 | 36 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $25,291 |
| Morningside University | No | 129 | 53 | N.Av. | 199 | 53 | N.Av. | $22,146 |
| Mount Mercy University | No | 79 | 28 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $25,182 |
| Northwestern College | No | 167 | 39 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $24,513 |
| Saint Ambrose University | No | 130 | 48 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $26,497 |
| Simpson College | No | 122 | 43 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $20,457 |
| University of Dubuque | No | 78 | 15 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $27,043 |
| University of Iowa | No | 832 | 262 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $17,452 |
| University of Northern Iowa | No | 2128 | 559 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,166 |
| Upper Iowa University | No | 260 | 54 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,187 |
| Wartburg College | No | 292 | 54 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $23,248 |
| William Penn University | No | 185 | 78 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $21,256 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Iowa
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 15 most affordable schools have a net price under $23,000.
- Emmaus Bible College ($15,696)
- Iowa State University ($16,105)
- University of Northern Iowa ($16,166)
- Faith Baptist Bible College ($16,896)
- University of Iowa ($17,452)
- Buena Vista University ($18,300)
- Graceland University ($18,434)
- Grand View University ($19,423)
- Simpson College ($20,457)
- Coe College ($21,155)
- William Penn University ($21,256)
- Central College ($21,690)
- Morningside University ($22,146)
- Briar Cliff University ($22,233)
- Loras College ($22,418)3
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 13 Iowa schools below offer associate degrees in education.3 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Dordt University*
- Eastern Iowa Community College District
- Ellsworth Community College
- Emmaus Bible College*
- Hawkeye Community College
- Indian Hills Community College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Marshalltown Community College
- North Iowa Area Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Southwestern Community College
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/