Best colleges in Iowa
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Iowa30 schools
30 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 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
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- 88% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 100% graduate
- 5Tie
- 5Tie
- 7
- 8
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- 70% graduate
- 9
- 10
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 66% graduate
- 11
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 68% graduate
- 12
- 13Tie
- 13Tie
- 15
- 16
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- 62% graduate
- 17Tie
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- 66% graduate
- 17Tie
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade C+
- 66% graduate
- 19
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- 61% graduate
- 20
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 58% graduate
- 21
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B-
- 48% graduate
- 22
- 23
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B
- 54% graduate
- 24
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade C+
- 50% graduate
- 25
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B-
- 40% graduate
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% |
| Drake University | $29,127 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| St. Luke's College | $19,820 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| 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% |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | $26,924 | $14,745 | $62,234 | 66% |
| 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% |
| University of Dubuque | $23,386 | $25,750 | $51,190 | 40% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3