Best colleges for engineering in Iowa
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in any engineering field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for engineering in Iowa13 schools
13 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 engineering, 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.
- 1Tie
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B
- 1Tie
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 3
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 4
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 5
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B
- 6Tie
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 6Tie
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 8
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 9
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 10
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 11
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 12
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit#26 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 13
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit#28 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Dordt University | $25,807 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| 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% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Northwestern College | $25,907 | $23,249 | $49,802 | 66% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Morningside University | $31,320 | $26,028 | $55,494 | 50% |
| William Penn University | $22,601 | $22,415 | $48,936 | 33% |
| Upper Iowa University | $20,942 | $25,000 | $52,766 | 34% |
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 11
- California 56
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 17
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 27
- Georgia 12
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 27
- Indiana 28
- Kansas 9
- Kentucky 9
- Louisiana 10
- Maine 4
- Maryland 11
- Massachusetts 22
- Michigan 29
- Minnesota 15
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 14
- Montana 3
- Nebraska 3
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 11
- New Mexico 3
- New York 41
- North Carolina 17
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 36
- Oklahoma 10
- Oregon 8
- Pennsylvania 57
- Puerto Rico 8
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 15
- South Dakota 4
- Tennessee 25
- Texas 46
- Utah 8
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 22
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 9
- Wisconsin 16