Iowa's higher education landscape offers strong options across 29 qualifying institutions, with both public research universities and selective liberal arts colleges earning top recognition. The state's leading schools excel in academic rigor, faculty-to-student ratios, and career outcomes. Three of the top five are public institutions, reflecting Iowa's commitment to accessible quality education alongside competitive private options. When evaluating Iowa colleges, students should examine graduation rates, which vary significantly across institution types, and consider program strengths in agriculture, engineering, and liberal arts. The mix includes major research universities with extensive resources, intimate college environments with personalized attention, and specialized technical programs designed for rapid workforce entry.
25
Schools Ranked
$46,936
Avg. Earnings
57.0%
Avg. Graduation Rate
Top 25 Schools
| # | School | Graduation Rate | Median Earnings | Acceptance Rate | In-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa
|
87.5% | $62,830 | 10.8% | $64,862 |
| 2 |
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
|
73.1% | $64,762 | 86.0% | $10,964 |
| 3 |
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
|
75.5% | $63,386 | 90.2% | $10,497 |
| 4 |
Orion Technical College
Davenport, Iowa
|
80.5% | $37,008 | $15,600 | |
| 5 |
Northwest Iowa Community College
Sheldon, Iowa
|
55.0% | $50,776 | $7,110 | |
| 6 |
North Iowa Area Community College
Mason City, Iowa
|
55.2% | $43,462 | $6,436 | |
| 7 |
Southwestern Community College
Creston, Iowa
|
53.0% | $40,129 | $7,024 | |
| 8 |
Divine Word College
Epworth, Iowa
|
100.0% | $15,000 | ||
| 9 |
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
|
68.9% | $55,177 | 95.0% | $9,728 |
| 10 |
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa
|
77.3% | $71,901 | 67.2% | $49,944 |
| 11 |
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar, Iowa
|
47.7% | $41,306 | $6,600 | |
| 12 |
Central College
Pella, Iowa
|
69.2% | $54,317 | 79.2% | $20,988 |
| 13 |
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, Iowa
|
44.0% | $42,046 | $5,376 | |
| 14 |
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Ankeny, Iowa
|
61.1% | $40,650 | 52.5% | $19,530 |
| 15 |
Ellsworth Community College
Iowa Falls, Iowa
|
42.6% | $40,562 | $5,304 | |
| 16 |
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, Iowa
|
40.4% | $40,507 | $4,872 | |
| 17 |
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa
|
40.1% | $42,793 | $6,780 | |
| 18 |
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, Iowa
|
40.2% | $40,473 | $5,042 | |
| 19 |
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
|
40.5% | $41,016 | $5,980 | |
| 20 |
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, Iowa
|
43.3% | $36,882 | $6,300 | |
| 21 |
Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown, Iowa
|
37.4% | $41,010 | $5,304 | |
| 22 |
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa
|
41.5% | $52,766 | 54.2% | $19,000 |
| 23 |
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, Iowa
|
34.1% | $41,018 | $5,550 | |
| 24 |
Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, Iowa
|
81.7% | $42,631 | 100.0% | $20,000 |
| 25 |
Eastern Iowa Community College District
Davenport, Iowa
|
34.3% | $39,060 | $4,680 |
Related Guides
See our methodology for how rankings are calculated.