Nursing Schools in Iowa: All 54 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Iowa has 35 schools running 54 board-approved nursing programs — 39 RN-track and 15 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Iowa programs is 86.9%, 0.4 points above the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
Best Nursing Schools in Iowa by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%
- 2100%
- 3100%
- 4100%
- 598.4%
- 697%
- 796.9%
- 895.8%
- 995.5%MSN: Entry Into Practice
- 1094.7%
What Nursing School Costs in Iowa — and What Graduates Earn
Tuition, admissions and graduate-earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, matched to 30 of 35 Iowa schools. Earnings are program-level — the median for graduates of that school's own nursing program, not all its alumni.
Median federal loan debt for BSN graduates in Iowa is $25,745 (14 programs). Sticker tuition is the whole school's published price, not the nursing program's alone, and it ignores aid — the number that decides whether a program pays off is what you actually pay plus the wages you give up while enrolled. Run your own numbers in the ROI calculator or read the full cost of becoming an RN.
Every Approved Nursing Program in Iowa
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
54 of 54 programs · “—” = not published for that program · tuition is the school’s published in-state price for one year, before aid; grad pay is the median for that program’s own graduates, one year out
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one — free to try, then $19/mo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Iowa by NCLEX pass rate?
4 RN programs in Iowa tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Graceland University — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Iowa?
Iowa has 35 schools offering 54 board-approved nursing programs: 39 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 15 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Iowa?
Across Iowa RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 86.9% — 0.4 points above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does nursing school cost in Iowa?
Across Iowa nursing schools we could match to U.S. Department of Education data, median published in-state tuition and fees run $6,653 a year at public schools (14 schools) and $37,050 at private nonprofits (15 schools). That is the whole institution's sticker price per year, before aid — an ADN takes about two years and a BSN four, and most students pay less than sticker. Per-school figures are in the table above.
What do nursing graduates in Iowa earn?
Federal earnings data tracks graduates of each specific nursing program. In Iowa, median earnings one year after finishing are $62,396 for ADN graduates (12 programs) and $67,208 for BSN graduates (14 programs). These are medians of program-level medians and the federal figures lag by a few years, so treat them as a floor for comparison between schools rather than a salary prediction.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Iowa board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
Tuition, admission rates, graduate earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release), matched by school name and city to 30 of 35 Iowa schools. Schools the federal data does not cover — hospital-based programs and schools outside federal student-aid reporting — show “—” rather than an estimate. Tuition and admission rates describe the whole institution; earnings and debt are specific to its nursing programs, by credential, and lag the current graduating class by several years.
- collegescorecard.ed.gov — Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release
- dial.iowa.gov — list: Live page as of July 12, 2026 (IBON 'Iowa Nursing Education Programs' approved list); pass rate CY2025 first-time (IBON RN/LPN Program Data 2025, NCSBN)