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Best Colleges in Iowa

All 45 colleges in Iowa, ranked by overall quality and led by Grinnell College, Drake University and University of Iowa. 13 public, 32 private. median out-of-state tuition $26,250. lowest in-state tuition $4,848 at Eastern Iowa Community College District. Each school below shows its acceptance rate, tuition and average SAT.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best college in Iowa?

Based on our overall rankings, Grinnell College is the top-ranked college in Iowa. Other strong choices include Drake University, University of Iowa, Iowa State University.

How many colleges are in Iowa?

We track 45 four-year colleges in Iowa, including 13 public institutions and 32 private ones.

How much does college cost in Iowa?

The average out-of-state tuition across colleges we track in Iowa is approximately $26,250 per year. In-state students at public schools typically pay significantly less, and most schools offer financial aid that reduces the effective cost.

What are the best public colleges in Iowa?

The best public colleges in Iowa include University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa. Public universities typically offer lower tuition for in-state residents.

What are the best private colleges in Iowa?

The best private colleges in Iowa include Grinnell College, Drake University, Luther College. Private colleges may offer more generous financial aid despite higher sticker prices.

How are these Iowa rankings determined?

Our overall rankings are calculated independently from publicly available data including U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS, and aggregated student-experience signals — not from US News or any other publication.

By major in Iowa

  1. 1. Grinnell College — Grinnell, IA · 14.5% acceptance · SAT 1,486 · $68,106 tuition · 88% grad rate
  2. 2. Drake University — Des Moines, IA · 63.9% acceptance · SAT 1,292 · $52,130 tuition · 74% grad rate
  3. 3. University of Iowa — Iowa City, IA · 83.6% acceptance · SAT 1,200 · $33,371 tuition · 75% grad rate
  4. 4. Iowa State University — Ames, IA · 88.7% acceptance · SAT 1,204 · $28,881 tuition · 75% grad rate
  5. 5. Luther College — Decorah, IA · 71.5% acceptance · SAT 1,218 · $52,120 tuition · 71% grad rate
  6. 6. Loras College — Dubuque, IA · 99.9% acceptance · $39,824 tuition · 68% grad rate
  7. 7. Simpson College — Indianola, IA · 86.2% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $47,656 tuition · 63% grad rate
  8. 8. University of Northern Iowa — Cedar Falls, IA · 92.7% acceptance · SAT 1,122 · $21,712 tuition · 68% grad rate
  9. 9. Dordt University — Sioux Center, IA · 68.5% acceptance · SAT 1,221 · $37,050 tuition · 70% grad rate
  10. 10. Central College — Pella, IA · 86.2% acceptance · SAT 1,147 · $20,988 tuition · 66% grad rate
  11. 11. St Luke's College — Sioux City, IA · 80% acceptance · SAT 980 · $24,175 tuition · 100% grad rate
  12. 12. Wartburg College — Waverly, IA · 75.8% acceptance · SAT 1,136 · $26,250 tuition · 64% grad rate
  13. 13. Cornell College — Mount Vernon, IA · 79.9% acceptance · SAT 1,234 · $52,660 tuition · 62% grad rate
  14. 14. Saint Ambrose University — Davenport, IA · 77.3% acceptance · SAT 1,093 · $36,658 tuition · 61% grad rate
  15. 15. Coe College — Cedar Rapids, IA · 64% acceptance · SAT 1,223 · $54,666 tuition · 66% grad rate
  16. 16. Mount Mercy University — Cedar Rapids, IA · 82.5% acceptance · $40,878 tuition · 58% grad rate
  17. 17. Mercy College of Health Sciences — Des Moines, IA · 99.7% acceptance · SAT 980 · $17,664 tuition · 56% grad rate
  18. 18. Northwestern College — Orange City, IA · 80.4% acceptance · $36,710 tuition · 66% grad rate
  19. 19. Clarke University — Dubuque, IA · 71.8% acceptance · SAT 1,054 · $40,910 tuition · 56% grad rate
  20. 20. Morningside University — Sioux City, IA · 71% acceptance · $39,660 tuition · 50% grad rate
  21. 21. Divine Word College — Epworth, IA · $15,600 tuition · 100% grad rate
  22. 22. Grand View University — Des Moines, IA · 99.1% acceptance · $34,762 tuition · 54% grad rate
  23. 23. Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary — Ankeny, IA · 67.5% acceptance · SAT 1,109 · $20,270 tuition · 68% grad rate
  24. 24. Buena Vista University — Storm Lake, IA · 77.6% acceptance · SAT 1,120 · $41,798 tuition · 54% grad rate
  25. 25. Briar Cliff University — Sioux City, IA · $36,956 tuition · 48% grad rate
  26. 26. North Iowa Area Community College — Mason City, IA · $9,551 tuition · 61% grad rate
  27. 27. University of Dubuque — Dubuque, IA · 88.6% acceptance · SAT 1,110 · $42,095 tuition · 40% grad rate
  28. 28. Southwestern Community College — Creston, IA · $8,316 tuition · 59% grad rate
  29. 29. Upper Iowa University — Fayette, IA · 96.5% acceptance · SAT 1,090 · $19,475 tuition · 34% grad rate
  30. 30. Northeast Iowa Community College — Calmar, IA · $7,770 tuition · 51% grad rate
  31. 31. Kirkwood Community College — Cedar Rapids, IA · $8,220 tuition · 43% grad rate
  32. 32. Graceland University-Lamoni — Lamoni, IA · 80.8% acceptance · $20,950 tuition · 42% grad rate
  33. 33. Hawkeye Community College — Waterloo, IA · $6,612 tuition · 43% grad rate
  34. 34. Ellsworth Community College — Iowa Falls, IA · $6,504 tuition · 38% grad rate
  35. 35. Iowa Central Community College — Fort Dodge, IA · $7,788 tuition · 42% grad rate
  36. 36. Indian Hills Community College — Ottumwa, IA · $6,120 tuition · 40% grad rate
  37. 37. Iowa Lakes Community College — Estherville, IA · $7,872 tuition · 36% grad rate
  38. 38. William Penn University — Oskaloosa, IA · 51.9% acceptance · SAT 984 · $29,750 tuition · 33% grad rate
  39. 39. Eastern Iowa Community College District — Davenport, IA · $6,456 tuition · 39% grad rate
  40. 40. Waldorf University — Forest City, IA · 77% acceptance · $25,978 tuition · 21% grad rate
  41. 41. Maharishi International University — Fairfield, IA · 95.7% acceptance · $16,530 tuition · 34% grad rate
  42. 42. Allen College — Waterloo, IA
  43. 43. Palmer College of Chiropractic — Davenport, IA
  44. 44. Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center — West Des Moines, IA
  45. 45. Wartburg Theological Seminary — Dubuque, IA

Best Colleges in Iowa on PickACampus