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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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What Can You Do With an MBA in Iowa

When considering an MBA, it's important to choose the program that aligns with your professional goals and lifestyle. Whether you're looking to advance in your current career or explore new opportunities, earning an MBA in Iowa can significantly expand your options. Iowa offers several accredited MBA programs to suit a variety of needs. Depending on your experience, schedule, and personal situation, you can choose from flexible options including online or on-campus programs, as well as part-time or full-time MBA tracks. These choices allow you to balance education with work and family commitments while pursuing a top-tier business degree.

If you can dedicate time to focus entirely on your MBA, you may be able to enroll in a program that uses a cohort approach, allowing you to complete all requirements in as little as one year. This approach keeps you with the same group of peers throughout the program, fostering collaboration and a strong academic community.

When selecting an MBA program in Iowa, look for features that best align with your career path. Some programs offer specialized training right after completing your undergraduate degree, while others provide easy access to a quality general MBA. For full-time professionals, many programs are designed to allow you to balance work, life, and coursework, giving you the flexibility to manage both.

Consider programs that offer concentrations tailored to your career interests, such as healthcare management, informatics, policy management, or other specialized fields. This flexibility can help you graduate with the skills and knowledge to excel in your chosen industry.

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Top 10 Best MBA Programs in Iowa

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1

Iowa State University

Score: 89.08

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $10,497
    • Out-of-State:$27,683
  • Net Price: $15,310
  • Acceptance Rate: 90%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 74%
  • Total Enrollment: 29,969
  • Undergrad Students: 25,241
  • Graduate Students: 4,728
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • Iowa State University
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2

University of Iowa

Score: 86.21

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $10,964
    • Out-of-State:$32,927
  • Net Price: $19,587
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 89%
  • Graduation Rate: 74%
  • Total Enrollment: 30,015
  • Undergrad Students: 21,973
  • Graduate Students: 8,042
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • University of Iowa
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3

University of Northern Iowa

Score: 80.66

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,728
    • Out-of-State:$21,272
  • Net Price: $15,782
  • Acceptance Rate: 95%
  • Retention Rate: 83%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 8,945
  • Undergrad Students: 7,735
  • Graduate Students: 1,210
  • Grads Salary: $66,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • University of Northern Iowa
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4

Drake University

Score: 80.58

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $49,944
    • Out-of-State:$49,944
  • Net Price: $30,333
  • Acceptance Rate: 67%
  • Retention Rate: 83%
  • Graduation Rate: 76%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,685
  • Undergrad Students: 2,835
  • Graduate Students: 1,850
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Drake University
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5

Saint Ambrose University

Score: 80.12

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $35,598
    • Out-of-State:$35,598
  • Net Price: $23,359
  • Acceptance Rate: 74%
  • Retention Rate: 79%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,747
  • Undergrad Students: 2,118
  • Graduate Students: 629
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • Saint Ambrose University
6

Mount Mercy University

Score: 78.53

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $39,070
    • Out-of-State:$39,070
  • Net Price: $24,078
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Retention Rate: 74%
  • Graduation Rate: 57%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,526
  • Undergrad Students: 1,271
  • Graduate Students: 255
  • Grads Salary: $75,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Mount Mercy University
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7

Clarke University

Score: 72.68

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $39,600
    • Out-of-State:$39,600
  • Net Price: $27,275
  • Acceptance Rate: 85%
  • Retention Rate: 67%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%
  • Total Enrollment: 965
  • Undergrad Students: 785
  • Graduate Students: 180
  • Grads Salary: $69,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Clarke University
8

Upper Iowa University

Score: 71.09

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $19,000
    • Out-of-State:$19,000
  • Net Price: $24,563
  • Acceptance Rate: 54%
  • Retention Rate: 57%
  • Graduation Rate: 42%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,072
  • Undergrad Students: 2,463
  • Graduate Students: 609
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Upper Iowa University
9

Northwestern College

Score: 70.32

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $35,300
    • Out-of-State:$35,300
  • Net Price: $25,198
  • Acceptance Rate: 87%
  • Retention Rate: 78%
  • Graduation Rate: 63%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,651
  • Undergrad Students: 1,153
  • Graduate Students: 498
  • Grads Salary: $62,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Northwestern College
10

University of Dubuque

Score: 69.67

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $40,065
    • Out-of-State:$40,065
  • Net Price: $22,879
  • Acceptance Rate: 85%
  • Retention Rate: 71%
  • Graduation Rate: 39%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,776
  • Undergrad Students: 1,444
  • Graduate Students: 332
  • Grads Salary: $66,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • University of Dubuque

Why Consider an Online MBA?

If you already live in Iowa, you may not want to leave home to earn your MBA. You may have come here from another state for work or because of family. If so, you don’t have to leave. Instead, you can find a program at one of Iowa’s top universities from anywhere in the U.S. You’ll learn while benefitting from a supportive learning environment with faculty who encourage their students to do their best.

As you’re thinking about your choices, conduct a side-by-side comparison. Along with studying each MBA program, look at full-time, concurrent, professional, and executive MBA programs. Don’t forget to think about the number of credits you’ll be required to take during your MBA. A good, full-time program may total 36 credit hours and take around two years to complete. Several of these will be core courses while the remaining classes will be elective courses that round out your MBA education. You want to make sure that the data you’re receiving is top-notch and the academics are cutting edge.

Percentage of Students Enrolled By Distance Education

Typical MBA Concentrations

At the University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, you’ll have your choice of four main concentrations within three study areas. These include Business Analytics, Corporate Finance, and Investment Management within the Finance concentration and finally, a Marketing concentration.

At Iowa State University, you can choose between an MBA in Technology and Innovation Management, supply chain management, marketing, finance, accounting, business analytics, info systems, or an MBA in Information Systems.

Find Your Online MBA Program

Drake University’s on-campus MBA offers a hybrid MBA (online and on-campus). Concentration areas include non-profit management, accounting, marketing, financial management, innovation and leadership, and healthcare management.

Additional Concentration Resources and Rankings:

Accreditation

The University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business is accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Tippie College of Business has maintained its accreditation since 1923.

Drake’s College of Business and Public Administration has also been accredited by the AACSB. The University of Northern Iowa maintains high standards, which have helped them to earn accreditations from the AACSB. The University of Northern Iowa holds international recognition with its accreditation from the AACSB.

Career and Job Outlook for MBA Graduates

According to the data collected from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Iowa employment in 2024 was 1,544,760 in total employment around the state. However, having a higher education in a slower job market will help put you ahead of other candidates.

For graduates of MBA programs within the state, employment is promising according to the numbers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In management occupations, employment sits at around 99,700, general and operations managers include 35,510 employees, and marketing managers fill about 2,400 management positions.

Computer and information systems managers hold down nearly 3,560 positions and financial managers occupying about 10,350 positions. Industrial production managers occupy 3,700 positions and human resources managers fill about 1,470. And medical services managers occupy 6,000 management positions.

According to the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, MBA graduates can expect to find full-time management positions within three months of their graduation and an average of 92% of students were presented with job offers. The average acceptance of job offers was just behind, at 90%. Even better, Iowa MBA graduates received signing bonuses averaging $17,339; their starting salaries were, on average, about $88,722.

Top Employers in the State by Number of Employees

Company Industry Headquarters City Number of Employees
Hy-Vee Retail West Des Moines 88,000
United Coop Hampton Food, Beverage, Tobaco Webster City 87,500
Eurofins Life Sciences Des Moines 48,000
Crystal Group Automotive Hiawatha 48,000
 

Careers for Graduates

  • Executive and Management Roles
    Many MBA graduates pursue careers in executive and management positions, such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), or operations manager. These roles require strong decision-making, strategic planning, and team leadership abilities.
  • Finance and Accounting
    An MBA with a focus on finance or accounting can lead to lucrative careers as financial analysts, investment bankers, or financial managers. Iowa's growing economy offers opportunities in both corporate finance and investment firms.
  • Healthcare Management
    For those specializing in healthcare management, Iowa's healthcare sector provides various career paths, including hospital administrators, health services managers, and directors of healthcare operations.
  • Marketing and Sales Leadership
    Iowa's thriving businesses require skilled marketing professionals. An MBA can lead to leadership roles in marketing and sales, such as marketing director, brand manager, or sales manager, where you can shape brand strategies and lead teams to drive revenue growth.
  • Consulting and Business Strategy
    MBA grads can also pursue consulting careers, helping organizations improve efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize business strategies. Consultants often work for firms or as independent contractors, advising companies on growth and operations.
  • Entrepreneurship
    With Iowa's supportive business environment, many MBA graduates start their own businesses. Armed with the knowledge gained from their degree, they can launch and manage successful startups or small businesses in a variety of industries.

How to Choose A Program

Before signing up, you’ll want to figure out how much your chosen MBA program will cost you. This isn’t a step you’ll want to skip, and don’t forget about food and living space if you’re relocating. Attending online means that you can choose classes that fit with your work schedule, social, and family obligations. A self-paced program allows you to study while working or taking care of anything you need to.

Make sure the MBA program at your chosen university has been accredited. This makes it much easier for you to find a job post-graduation. Contact the alumni offices of each school you’re interested in. You can ask for connections to former students or alumni and make sure to get all the details on the programs you’re considering.

  • Know who you are and what goals you want to achieve. This helps you to be “real” as you apply to each graduate program you’re interested in. Ask yourself questions about your anticipated future—what are your weaknesses and strengths? What are your career goals? Don’t limit your goals and plans. Go big. Describe how you want to change the world and look for the common denominator that connects your past choices to your goals. Tell your story and make sure that it contains a clear vision of your future. Speak to others to get to know yourself.
  • Choose a school by choosing schools that are a stretch for your goals. If you’re not sure about your decisions, the admissions committee will be able to sense this. Look at each program’s features rather than just MBA rankings. Talk to current students and alumni. Ask them to tell you truthfully what they like about their school and what they don’t like. You’re looking for little-known nuggets of information, not the trite statements. After all, in learning what others really think, you’ll be able to make a better choice.
  • Think like a marketer—of yourself. Develop a personal brand by identifying your own individual expertise and the contributions you could make to an MBA program. Use this thinking in every part of your admission applications. What has affected your view of the world? Once you identify these events, use them to illustrate who you are as you work on your essays and applications. If you come from a special group (woman, minority, LGTBQ) push this as you work on your applications. Your interests can also set you apart. If you competed in a recent Olympics, for instance, use that.
  • Study for your GMAT. In the end, you may need to take it a few times until you earn your desired score. Remember, you can’t run a marathon the first time you run. Achieve your GMAT testing goal in small increments until you reach it. If there is one section that is giving you trouble, study that or get together with a study buddy to help you out. Go over the material until you understand it without effort. Take practice tests to measure your progress and so you can continue to monitor those troublesome areas for yourself.
  • Write out a fresh resume that you’ll use only for your applications. Support your value to each program with supporting evidence—past sales goals achievements or restructuring of a department for your employer, for instance. As you write your resume out, avoid using technical language and industry-specific jargon. You’ll make admissions committees zone out. Emphasize the skills you have that are relevant to your planned role as an MBA student. Remember that someone else with your job title elsewhere in the country is probably applying to several of your chosen schools. Why are you better than this person?

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