Best colleges for computer science in Iowa
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in computer science, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for computer science in Iowa19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in computer science, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- 2
Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit#2 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 3Tie
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 5
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 6
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 7
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 8
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 9
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B
- 10Tie
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 10Tie
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 12
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade C+
- 13
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 14
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 15
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 16
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 17
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B
- 18
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit#26 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade B-
- 19
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in computer science
- Value grade C+
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College | $17,648 | $17,500 | $62,830 | 88% |
| Emmaus Bible College | $13,186 | $15,750 | $42,631 | 83% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| University of Iowa | $22,531 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Iowa State University | $18,589 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| Luther College | $23,097 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Coe College | $18,745 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $15,901 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Central College | $23,377 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Cornell College | $23,634 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| Northwestern College | $25,907 | $23,249 | $49,802 | 66% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Mount Mercy University | $20,168 | $23,699 | $60,787 | 58% |
| Briar Cliff University | $23,907 | $23,250 | $54,475 | 48% |
| Clarke University | $24,479 | $26,717 | $55,396 | 56% |
| Grand View University | $21,774 | $22,500 | $52,824 | 54% |
| William Penn University | $22,601 | $22,415 | $48,936 | 33% |
| Maharishi International University | $14,956 | $24,781 | $27,981 | 50% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 11
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 9
- California 54
- Colorado 10
- Connecticut 11
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 19
- Georgia 12
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 39
- Indiana 28
- Kansas 7
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 14
- Maine 7
- Maryland 11
- Massachusetts 33
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 24
- Mississippi 5
- Missouri 21
- Montana 6
- Nebraska 6
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 12
- New York 46
- North Carolina 24
- Ohio 40
- Oklahoma 7
- Oregon 8
- Pennsylvania 44
- Puerto Rico 13
- Rhode Island 6
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 25
- Texas 27
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 18
- Washington 13
- West Virginia 7
- Wisconsin 17