HighSchoolOS Best Colleges in Iowa
The strongest colleges and universities in Iowa, ranked by graduation rate and selectivity, with verified acceptance rates, net price, and test scores for this admissions cycle.
Explore this ranking interactively| # | School | Location | Acceptance | SAT avg | Net price | Grad rate | Undergrads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | 84% | 1,200 | $22,531 | 75% | 22,264 |
| 2 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA | 89% | 1,204 | $18,589 | 75% | 25,367 |
| 3 | Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA | 14.5% | 1,486 | $17,648 | 88% | 1,729 |
| 4 | Drake University | Des Moines, IA | 64% | 1,292 | $29,127 | 74% | 2,543 |
| 5 | Luther College | Decorah, IA | 72% | 1,218 | $23,097 | 71% | 1,379 |
| 6 | University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA | 93% | 1,122 | $15,901 | 68% | 7,529 |
| 7 | Loras College | Dubuque, IA | 100% | n/a | $20,716 | 68% | 1,083 |
| 8 | Coe College | Cedar Rapids, IA | 64% | 1,223 | $18,745 | 66% | 1,164 |
| 9 | Wartburg College | Waverly, IA | 76% | 1,136 | $32,908 | 64% | 1,452 |
| 10 | Simpson College | Indianola, IA | 86% | 1,440 | $21,936 | 63% | 1,227 |
| 11 | Cornell College | Mount Vernon, IA | 80% | 1,234 | $23,634 | 62% | 1,086 |
| 12 | Buena Vista University | Storm Lake, IA | 78% | 1,120 | $18,846 | 62% | 1,366 |
| 13 | Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, IA | 77% | 1,093 | $24,691 | 61% | 1,916 |
| 14 | Grand View University | Des Moines, IA | 99% | n/a | $21,774 | 54% | 1,486 |
| 15 | Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | 71% | n/a | $31,320 | 50% | 1,163 |
| 16 | Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, IA | n/a | n/a | $23,907 | 48% | 624 |
| 17 | Graceland University-Lamoni | Lamoni, IA | 81% | n/a | $18,504 | 42% | 798 |
| 18 | University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | 89% | 1,110 | $23,386 | 40% | 1,440 |
| 19 | Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | 96% | 1,090 | $20,942 | 34% | 1,994 |
Acceptance rate, net price (average cost after aid), and graduation rate are from the most recent federal data; test ranges and deadlines are verified against each school for the 2025-2026 cycle. Click any school for its full profile, deadlines, and supplemental essay prompts.