Best Colleges in Iowa

The higher education experts at BestColleges.com have reviewed the top 4-year colleges in Iowa. Start planning your future at BestColleges.com.

Updated October 31, 2024

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Earning a college degree provides graduates with a number of benefits. Higher education promotes critical thinking, enhances communication skills, and often exposes students to diverse communities and perspectives they might not otherwise encounter. Perhaps most significantly, data suggests that earning a college degree can dramatically increase employability and earning potential over the course of your lifetime.

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In this Article

Best Colleges in Iowa

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA4 yearCampus

$60,988

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,988

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

11%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

1,759

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,988

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,988

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,988

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,988

Acceptance Rate

11%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

1,759

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Iowa State University

Ames, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$8,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

89%

Acceptance Rate

55%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,572

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,776

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

30,177

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,168

Iowa State University

Ames, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,168

Acceptance Rate

89%

Online Enrollment

55%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,572

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,776

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

30,177

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Allen College

Waterloo, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$19,236

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,236

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

100%

Acceptance Rate

82%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,400

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,400

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

497

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,236

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,236

Allen College

Waterloo, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,236

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,236

Acceptance Rate

100%

Online Enrollment

82%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,400

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,400

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

497

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$8,396

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

94%

Acceptance Rate

44%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,691

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,774

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

9,021

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,396

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,940

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,396

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,940

Acceptance Rate

94%

Online Enrollment

44%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,691

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,774

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

9,021

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$10,964

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,927

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

85%

Acceptance Rate

58%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,875

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,822

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

30,042

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,964

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,927

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,964

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,927

Acceptance Rate

85%

Online Enrollment

58%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,875

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,822

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

30,042

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

St Luke's College

Sioux City, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$19,440

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,440

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

23%

Acceptance Rate

39%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

100%

Students Enrolled

196

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,440

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,440

St Luke's College

Sioux City, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,440

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,440

Acceptance Rate

23%

Online Enrollment

39%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

100%

Students Enrolled

196

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA4 yearCampus

$50,314

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,314

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

72%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

70%

Students Enrolled

1,264

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,314

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,314

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$50,314

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$50,314

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

70%

Students Enrolled

1,264

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Luther College

Decorah, IA4 yearCampus

$47,510

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$47,510

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

73%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

1,610

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$47,510

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$47,510

Luther College

Decorah, IA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$47,510

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$47,510

Acceptance Rate

73%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

1,610

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Drake University

Des Moines, IA4 yearCampus + Online

$47,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$47,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

65%

Acceptance Rate

35%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,878

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,878

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

4,504

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$47,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$47,564

Drake University

Des Moines, IA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$47,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$47,564

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment

35%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,878

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,878

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

4,504

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA2 yearCampus

$48,514

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$48,514

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

79%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,850

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,850

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

1,074

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$48,514

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$48,514

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA2 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$48,514

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$48,514

Acceptance Rate

79%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,850

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,850

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

1,074

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Click here to see the best community colleges in Iowa.

Generally, low unemployment rates make it easier for job seekers to find work. This is good news for college graduates in the Hawkeye State. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iowa boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation — 2.6% as of October 2019. According to the state agency Iowa Workforce Development, occupational fields with particularly high projected growth rates between 2016 and 2026 include office and administrative support, sales, management, and education/library services.

If you’re ready to begin your college journey, the following list of the 25 top colleges in Iowa is a great place to start. Our ranking provides you with notable information about several key elements of the college experience, such as admissions, academic offerings, student life, and campus culture.