Most selective colleges in Iowa
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Iowa16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
How this list is made
- Schools in Iowa.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 64%
- Average SAT 1223
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Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Admits 68%
- Average SAT 1221
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Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Admits 77%
- Average SAT 1093
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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% |
| Coe College | $18,745 | $27,000 | $57,125 | 66% |
| Dordt University | $25,807 | $21,500 | $52,559 | 70% |
| Luther College | $23,097 | $27,000 | $59,850 | 71% |
| Wartburg College | $32,908 | $27,000 | $56,201 | 64% |
| Saint Ambrose University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $59,531 | 61% |
| Cornell College | $23,634 | $27,000 | $53,460 | 62% |
| St. Luke's College | $19,820 | $15,000 | $61,033 | 100% |
| University of Iowa | $22,531 | $22,500 | $64,762 | 75% |
| Central College | $23,377 | $26,984 | $54,317 | 66% |
| Simpson College | $21,936 | $26,000 | $59,274 | 63% |
| Iowa State University | $18,589 | $22,869 | $63,386 | 75% |
| University of Northern Iowa | $15,901 | $19,691 | $55,177 | 68% |
| Loras College | $20,716 | $26,000 | $58,289 | 68% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15