Best colleges for history in Iowa
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in history, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for history in Iowa25 schools
25 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 history, 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 history
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- 2
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit#3 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 3Tie
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public#5 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 5
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 6
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 7
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 8
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 9
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 10
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 11Tie
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 11Tie
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 13
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 14
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 15
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 16
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 17
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 18
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 19
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 20
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 21
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade C+
- 22
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit#26 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 23
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit#28 in Iowa
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B-
- 24
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B
- 25
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA · Private for-profitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in history
- Value grade B · Top 42%
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% |
| Drake University | $29,127 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Buena Vista University | $18,846 | $25,000 | $49,156 | 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% |
| 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% |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | $18,504 | $21,212 | $47,361 | 42% |
| Waldorf University | $19,693 | $18,752 | $51,165 | 21% |
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 22
- Arizona 7
- Arkansas 17
- California 68
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 20
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 30
- Georgia 43
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 7
- Illinois 45
- Indiana 35
- Kansas 22
- Kentucky 23
- Louisiana 20
- Maine 9
- Maryland 23
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 31
- Minnesota 28
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 37
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 25
- New Mexico 6
- New York 82
- North Carolina 45
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 61
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 16
- Pennsylvania 80
- Puerto Rico 7
- Rhode Island 7
- South Carolina 28
- South Dakota 8
- Tennessee 36
- Texas 67
- Utah 8
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 40
- Washington 17
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 27