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U.S. News Released 2027 College Rankings

Three Iowa universities earned new national and regional rankings in the latest annual report.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in College Applications

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U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 college rankings, highlighting new performance metrics for the University of Iowa and other state institutions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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U.S. News & World Report has published its 2027 college rankings, evaluating 1,700 institutions nationwide. The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa were among those receiving updated placements.

Why it matters

These rankings reflect a shift in methodology, as U.S. News introduced an earnings-by-major metric to better address concerns regarding higher education affordability and long-term value for students.

The University of Iowa secured the No. 100 spot nationally, while Iowa State University ranked No. 116. Additionally, the University of Northern Iowa was named the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region.

The players

U.S. News & World Report

This American media company publishes news, opinion, consumer advice, and the widely cited annual rankings of colleges and graduate schools.

University of Iowa

This public research university located in Iowa City is a member of the Association of American Universities and features prominent academic programs.

Iowa State University

This public land-grant research university based in Ames is known for its wide array of academic programs and engineering research.

University of Northern Iowa

This public university located in Cedar Falls focuses on undergraduate education and teacher preparation programs.

The details

The rankings are derived from various outcome measures, including student enrollment and graduation metrics. New additions for the 2027 cycle include a category for the best value for in-state students, while the University of Iowa also earned high marks for nursing at No. 4 and writing in the disciplines at No. 10.

Timeline

  1. U.S. News debuted its annual college rankings in 1983.

  2. The University of Iowa reached No. 19 among public universities in 2005.

  3. The University of Iowa ranked No. 38 among public universities in 2019.

  4. The 2027 college rankings list was released on September 22, 2026.

Culture Shift

The U.S. News & World Report methodology overhaul remains the industry standard for evaluating university performance, and this year's rankings follow the pattern set by that framework. These updates mark a significant move toward prioritizing post-graduation financial data over traditional debt metrics.

Students and families in Iowa can use these updated figures to weigh the value of in-state tuition against the latest rankings for their prospective institutions. The inclusion of new value metrics may also influence future decision-making regarding which degree programs provide the best economic outlook.

The takeaway

Prospective students should consider how evolving metrics like earnings by major might provide a more accurate picture of long-term return on investment than static historical data. Utilizing a broad range of criteria rather than a single national number helps identify the specific program strengths that align with individual goals.

Further reading

Explore the full College Applications section for more context on higher education trends.

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Do you trust university rankings to accurately reflect the true value of a college degree?