Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Iowa
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Iowa30 schools
30 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 196 undergraduates
- 2
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- 88% graduate
- 1,775 undergraduates
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- 70% graduate
- 1,695 undergraduates
- 9
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · PublicTop 24% for graduation
- 68% graduate
- 7,734 undergraduates
- 10
- 11
- 12
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 66% graduate
- 1,146 undergraduates
- 13
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 66% graduate
- 1,278 undergraduates
- 14
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for low debt
- 66% graduate
- 905 undergraduates
- 15
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 64% graduate
- 1,454 undergraduates
- 16
- 17
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 62% graduate
- 1,082 undergraduates
- 18
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 62% graduate
- 1,442 undergraduates
- 19
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 61% graduate
- 2,114 undergraduates
- 20
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 58% graduate
- 1,185 undergraduates
- 21
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 56% graduate
- 871 undergraduates
- 22
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 54% graduate
- 1,483 undergraduates
- 23
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 50% graduate
- 1,177 undergraduates
- 24
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 50% graduate
- 777 undergraduates
- 25
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- 48% graduate
- 737 undergraduates
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Luke's College | About $20,000 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| Grinnell College | About $18,000 | $17,500 | $62,830 | 88% |
| Emmaus Bible College | About $13,000 | $15,750 | $42,631 | 83% |
| Iowa State University | About $19,000 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| University of Iowa | About $23,000 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Drake University | About $29,000 | $23,000 | $71,901 | 74% |
| Luther College | About $23,000 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Dordt University | About $26,000 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| University of Northern Iowa | About $16,000 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Loras College | About $21,000 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
| Central College | About $23,000 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Northwestern College | About $26,000 | $23,249 | $49,802 | 66% |
| Coe College | About $19,000 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | About $27,000 | $14,745 | $62,234 | 66% |
| Wartburg College | About $33,000 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Simpson College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| Cornell College | About $24,000 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| Buena Vista University | About $19,000 | $25,000 | $49,156 | 62% |
| Saint Ambrose University | About $25,000 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Mount Mercy University | About $20,000 | $23,699 | $60,787 | 58% |
| Clarke University | About $24,000 | $26,717 | $55,396 | 56% |
| Grand View University | About $22,000 | $22,500 | $52,824 | 54% |
| Morningside University | About $31,000 | $26,028 | $55,494 | 50% |
| Maharishi International University | About $15,000 | $24,781 | $27,981 | 50% |
| Briar Cliff University | About $24,000 | $23,250 | $54,475 | 48% |
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