Best test-optional colleges in Iowa
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Iowa29 schools
29 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.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- 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
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 100% graduate
- 5Tie
- 5Tie
- 7
- 8
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 70% graduate
- 9
Luther College
Decorah, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 10
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 11
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 12
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 13Tie
Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 13Tie
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 62% graduate
- 15
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 64% graduate
- 16
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 62% graduate
- 17Tie
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 17Tie
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 19
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 20
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 58% graduate
- 21
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 56% graduate
- 22
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 54% graduate
- 23
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 50% graduate
- 24
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 40% graduate
- 25
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit#26 in Iowa
- SAT or ACT not required
- 33% 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% |
| 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% |
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 23
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 35
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Maryland 25
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34