Iowa
Colleges in Iowa
Iowa has 34 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide, each rated on academics and value from federal data; 12 are Compass Recommended.
Map of colleges in Iowa
Hover or tap a dot to see the school and its score.
Compass ScoreNot yet ratedMap: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries; roads and places © OpenStreetMap contributors via OpenFreeMap.
Highest-rated colleges in Iowa
Top lists in Iowa
- 30 schoolsBest colleges
- 19 schoolsBest colleges for nursing
- 13 schoolsBest colleges for engineering
- 27 schoolsBest colleges for business
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for education
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for biology and pre-med
- 27 schoolsBest colleges for psychology
- 19 schoolsBest colleges for computer science
Show all 45 lists
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for communications and journalism
- 23 schoolsBest colleges for accounting
- 13 schoolsBest colleges for finance
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for marketing
- 19 schoolsBest colleges for criminal justice
- 21 schoolsBest colleges for political science and pre-law
- 17 schoolsBest colleges for economics
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for history
- 26 schoolsBest colleges for English
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for mathematics
- 23 schoolsBest colleges for chemistry
- 25 schoolsBest colleges for music
- 24 schoolsBest colleges for art and design
- 24 schoolsBest colleges for exercise science and kinesiology
- 14 schoolsBest colleges for social work
- 16 schoolsBest value colleges
- 16 schoolsMost affordable colleges with strong academics
- 30 schoolsColleges with the highest graduation rates
- 23 schoolsBest small colleges
- 5 schoolsBest mid-size colleges
- 4 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division I athletes
- 10 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division III athletes
- 11 schoolsBest colleges for NAIA athletes
- 29 schoolsBest test-optional colleges
- 4 schoolsBest online colleges
- 16 schoolsColleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price
- 16 schoolsLowest net price for middle-income families
- 16 schoolsColleges with the lowest student debt
- 16 schoolsColleges with the best earnings for the price
- 15 schoolsColleges that pay for themselves fastest
- 6 schoolsBest colleges under $20,000 a year
- 16 schoolsBest value colleges in the Midwest
- 15 schoolsColleges where the most freshmen return
- 16 schoolsColleges with the most faculty per student
- 16 schoolsColleges that spend the most on teaching
- 4 schoolsColleges where Pell Grant students thrive
- 16 schoolsMost selective colleges
All colleges in Iowa
| School | Compass Score | Value | Academics | Net price | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Grinnell · Private nonprofit | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A+Academics: A+ (grade A+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $17,648 | 1,775 | |
| Emmaus Bible College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Dubuque · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,186 | 197 | |
| Drake University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Des Moines · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $29,127 | 4,504 | |
| St. Luke's College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Sioux City · Private nonprofit | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,820 | 196 | |
| University of Iowa RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Iowa City · Public | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,531 | 30,042 | |
| Simpson College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Indianola · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,936 | 1,163 | |
| Iowa State University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Ames · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,589 | 30,177 | |
| Dordt University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Sioux Center · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,807 | 1,929 | |
| Luther College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Decorah · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,097 | 1,463 | |
| Coe College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Cedar Rapids · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,745 | 1,278 | |
| University of Northern Iowa RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Cedar Falls · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $15,901 | 9,013 | |
| Loras College RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Dubuque · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,716 | 1,213 | |
| Central College Pella · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,377 | 1,095 | |
| Cornell College Mount Vernon · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,634 | 1,084 | |
| Wartburg College Waverly · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $32,908 | 1,472 | |
| Buena Vista University Storm Lake · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,846 | 1,951 | |
| Northwestern College Orange City · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $25,907 | 1,665 | |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $26,924 | 907 | |
| Saint Ambrose University Davenport · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,691 | 2,703 | |
| Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,168 | 1,451 | |
| Briar Cliff University Sioux City · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,907 | 940 | |
| Clarke University Dubuque · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,479 | 1,025 | |
| Grand View University Des Moines · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,774 | 1,796 | |
| Morningside University Sioux City · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $31,320 | 2,158 | |
| University of Dubuque Dubuque · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,386 | 1,795 | |
| William Penn University Oskaloosa · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,601 | 1,536 | |
| Maharishi International University Fairfield · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,956 | 2,666 | |
| Upper Iowa University Fayette · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $20,942 | 3,102 | |
| Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,504 | 1,195 | |
| Waldorf University Forest City · Private for-profit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,693 | 2,657 | |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 2,219 |
| Allen College Waterloo · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 489 |
| Orion Technical College Davenport · Private for-profit | — | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $26,439 | 73 |
| Divine Word College Epworth · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 61 |
Common questions
How many colleges are in Iowa?
Iowa has 34 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide.
Which colleges in Iowa are Compass Recommended?
Grinnell College, Emmaus Bible College, Drake University, St. Luke's College, University of Iowa, Simpson College, Iowa State University, Dordt University, Luther College, Coe College, University of Northern Iowa, Loras College. Recommended means the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value (how it works).