Best small colleges in Iowa
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Iowa23 schools
23 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
- 1,775 undergraduates
- 88% graduate
- 2
- 3
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 196 undergraduates
- 100% graduate
- 4
- 5
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- 1,695 undergraduates
- 70% graduate
- 6
- 7
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 1,278 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 8
- 9Tie
- 9Tie
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,082 undergraduates
- 62% graduate
- 11
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,454 undergraduates
- 64% graduate
- 12
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,442 undergraduates
- 62% graduate
- 13Tie
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- 905 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 13Tie
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,146 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 15
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 1,185 undergraduates
- 58% graduate
- 16
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 737 undergraduates
- 48% graduate
- 17
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 871 undergraduates
- 56% graduate
- 18
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 1,483 undergraduates
- 54% graduate
- 19
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 1,177 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
- 20
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 1,477 undergraduates
- 40% graduate
- 21
- 22
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 777 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
- 23
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 902 undergraduates
- 42% 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% |
| St. Luke's College | $19,820 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| William Penn University | $22,601 | $22,415 | $48,936 | 33% |
| Maharishi International University | $14,956 | $24,781 | $27,981 | 50% |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | $18,504 | $21,212 | $47,361 | 42% |
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 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15