Iowa Best College Rankings
Grinnell College ranked first and Drake University ranked second in Iowa college rankings. The 2025 average tuition & fees of the Iowa best colleges is $29,741 for Iowa residents and $35,770 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 77.73% and the average SAT score is 1,183. The average number of student population is 4,391 and the average student to faculty ratio is 13 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for Iowa best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $35,770 and Grinnell College has the highest tuition & fees of $68,196 and Divine Word College has the lowest tuition & fees of $15,600.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $13,835 and University of Iowa has the highest tuition & fees of $32,372 and Cornell College has the lowest tuition & fees of $2,800.
- The average SAT score is 1,183 and Grinnell College has the highest SAT score of 1,490 and Wartburg College has the lowest score of 1,030.
- The average acceptance rate is 77.73% and Grinnell College has the tightest (lowest) rate of 15% and Grand View University has the loosest (lowest) rate of 99%.
- The average student population is 4,391 and University of Iowa has the most students of 30,779 and Divine Word College has the fewest students of 64.
- The average graduation rate is 60.84% and Divine Word College has the highest rate of 100% and Waldorf University has the lowest rate of 21%.
Iowa Best Colleges Comparison
The below table compares the 25 best colleges in Iowa with important academic factors. You can sort the table by touching/clicking a column name that you want to sort.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA | $68,196 | - | 1,490 | 14.5% | 1,788 | 88% | 9 to 1 |
| 2 | Drake University Des Moines, IA | $51,960 | $12,825 | 1,300 | 63.9% | 4,345 | 74% | 11 to 1 |
| 3 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA | $37,050 | $10,990 | 1,225 | 68.5% | 1,952 | 70% | 14 to 1 |
| 4 | Iowa State University Ames, IA | $28,881 | $30,577 | 1,250 | 88.7% | 30,380 | 75% | 18 to 1 |
| 5 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA | $33,371 | $32,372 | 1,230 | 83.6% | 30,779 | 75% | 16 to 1 |
| 6 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA | $40,878 | $12,148 | - | 82.5% | 1,417 | 58% | 14 to 1 |
| 7 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA | $41,798 | $9,061 | - | 77.6% | 1,890 | 62% | 13 to 1 |
| 8 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA | $19,475 | $20,185 | - | 96.5% | 3,941 | 34% | 25 to 1 |
| 9 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA | $21,712 | $23,304 | 1,170 | 92.7% | 9,278 | 68% | 18 to 1 |
| 10 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA | $26,250 | $12,000 | 1,030 | 75.8% | 1,483 | 64% | 13 to 1 |
| 11 | Luther College Decorah, IA | $52,120 | - | 1,215 | 71.5% | 1,384 | 71% | 9 to 1 |
| 12 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA | $16,530 | $16,530 | - | 95.7% | 2,592 | 50% | 13 to 1 |
| 13 | Central College Pella, IA | $20,988 | - | 1,100 | 86.2% | 1,084 | 66% | 11 to 1 |
| 14 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA | $39,519 | $11,516 | - | 71.0% | 2,056 | 50% | 12 to 1 |
| 15 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA | $54,666 | - | 1,150 | 64.0% | 1,195 | 66% | 11 to 1 |
| 16 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA | $35,642 | $9,738 | - | - | 947 | 48% | 10 to 1 |
| 17 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA | $19,848 | $11,991 | - | 80.8% | 1,102 | 42% | 12 to 1 |
| 18 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA | $52,660 | $2,800 | 1,200 | 79.9% | 1,094 | 62% | 14 to 1 |
| 19 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA | $42,095 | $9,530 | 1,090 | 88.6% | 1,757 | 40% | 10 to 1 |
| 20 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA | $36,658 | $17,209 | 1,050 | 77.3% | 2,498 | 61% | 11 to 1 |
| 21 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA | $36,710 | $6,790 | - | 80.4% | 1,705 | 66% | 15 to 1 |
| 22 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA | $25,978 | $5,340 | - | 77.0% | 2,225 | 21% | 22 to 1 |
| 23 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA | $34,762 | $9,550 | - | 99.1% | 1,856 | 54% | 12 to 1 |
| 24 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA | $40,910 | $12,237 | 1,060 | 71.8% | 962 | 56% | 9 to 1 |
| 25 | Divine Word College Epworth, IA | $15,600 | - | - | - | 64 | 100% | 5 to 1 |
| Average | $35,770 | $13,835 | 1,183 | 77.7% | 4,391 | 61% | 13 to 1 |
Iowa Colleges by Ranking and School Type