2020 Iowa Colleges Comparison
Iowa College Overview
For the academic year 2019-2020, eighty-six colleges are active for serving college programs in Iowa. By school types, there are twenty-four public schools and sixty-two private schools. By school levels, forty-four 4-years (or high) schools, forty-one 2-4 years schools (community colleges), and one less than 2 years schools (career, technical or vocational schools) are active based on the IPEDS data.
Of the eighty-six Iowa schools, Grinnell College ranked first and Drake University ranked second (view more at Iowa college rankings). The 2020 average tuition & fees of all Iowa colleges is $19,063 for Iowa residents and $20,363 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 68.18% and the average SAT score is 1,117. The average number of students is 2,936 and the average student to faculty ratio is 12 to 1.
The below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for Iowa colleges. For the statistics, we include only 4-years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges. In addition, for some statistics, we include only eligible colleges, for example, for the graduate tuition & fees over colleges that offer the graduate programs.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees are $20,363 and Grinnell College has the highest tuition & fees of $56,680 and Shiloh University has the lowest tuition & fees of $5,250.
- The average graduate tuition & fees are $13,524 and Maharishi University of Management has the highest tuition & fees of $29,530 and Shiloh University has the lowest tuition & fees of $3,420.
- The average SAT score is 1,117 and Grinnell College has the highest SAT score of 1,450 and University of Dubuque has the lowest score of 960.
- The average acceptance rate is 68.18% and Grinnell College has the tightest (lowest) rate of 23% and Mercy College of Health Sciences has the loosest (lowest) rate of 98%.
- The average student population is 2,936 and Iowa State University has the most students of 34,992 and Shiloh University has the fewest students of 42.
- The average graduation rate is 58.54% and St Luke's College has the highest rate of 100% and Waldorf University has the lowest rate of 30%.
2020 Iowa Colleges Comparison Table
The following table lists colleges located in Iowa ordered by college ranking. The ranking is targeting only 4-years universities and colleges. The "-" value in other columns means that the corresponding data has not been reported or the school does not have programs for the values.
You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using the buttons below.
| College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $56,680 | - | 1,450 | 23.00% | 1,716 | 89% | 9 to 1 |
| Drake University Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $44,366 | $11,932 | 1,235 | 68.00% | 4,869 | 81% | 10 to 1 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $24,504 | $25,948 | 1,220 | 92.00% | 34,992 | 74% | 19 to 1 |
| Luther College Decorah, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $45,610 | - | 1,148 | 62.00% | 2,005 | 75% | 11 to 1 |
| University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $31,569 | $27,613 | 1,235 | 83.00% | 31,656 | 72% | 16 to 1 |
| Simpson College Indianola, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $42,246 | $8,868 | 1,140 | 80.00% | 1,444 | 72% | 11 to 1 |
| University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $21,222 | $22,648 | 1,111 | 79.00% | 11,187 | 67% | 18 to 1 |
| Central College Pella, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $18,600 | - | 1,105 | 65.00% | 1,117 | 67% | 11 to 1 |
| Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $47,210 | - | 1,189 | 63.00% | 1,422 | 66% | 11 to 1 |
| Wartburg College Waverly, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $45,680 | $24,680 | 1,130 | 75.00% | 1,498 | 62% | 11 to 1 |
| Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $36,426 | $9,936 | 1,020 | 57.00% | 1,846 | 60% | 8 to 1 |
| Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $45,914 | $13,700 | 1,223 | 62.00% | 1,028 | 69% | 12 to 1 |
| Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,506 | $10,870 | - | 66.00% | 1,835 | 64% | 15 to 1 |
| Clarke University Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,750 | $12,119 | 1,030 | 94.00% | 1,004 | 63% | 8 to 1 |
| Morningside College Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $33,970 | $5,400 | - | 63.00% | 2,698 | 62% | 13 to 1 |
| Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $32,758 | $18,150 | 1,170 | 77.00% | 3,045 | 64% | 11 to 1 |
| Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $32,945 | $19,152 | 1,070 | 51.00% | 4,392 | 48% | 13 to 1 |
| University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,700 | $13,140 | 960 | 73.00% | 2,385 | 43% | 13 to 1 |
| Waldorf University Forest City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $23,088 | $4,775 | 1,015 | 66.00% | 3,150 | 30% | 23 to 1 |
| Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $31,320 | $17,647 | 1,020 | 58.00% | 1,993 | 46% | 14 to 1 |
| Maharishi University of Management Fairfield, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $16,530 | $29,530 | - | 81.00% | 1,589 | 67% | 10 to 1 |
| Purdue University Global-Davenport Davenport, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $14,343 | $11,414 | - | - | 30,512 | - | 20 to 1 |
| Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA Public, 2-4 years | $5,304 | - | - | - | 1,931 | 32% | 19 to 1 |
| Ross College-Quad Cities Bettendorf, IA Private, 2-4 years | $15,990 | - | - | - | 76 | 46% | 11 to 1 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,744 | - | - | - | 7,771 | 37% | 19 to 1 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Iowa City Iowa City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,361 | - | - | - | 18 | - | 6 to 1 |
| Northwestern College Orange City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $32,920 | $6,340 | 1,140 | 70.00% | 1,299 | 68% | 10 to 1 |
| Purdue University Global-Mason City Mason City, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $14,343 | $11,414 | - | - | 142 | - | 20 to 1 |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | - | $18,967 | - | - | 1,549 | - | - |
| St Luke's College Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,940 | - | - | 29.00% | 273 | 100% | 6 to 1 |
| Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,510 | - | - | - | 5,263 | 29% | 18 to 1 |
| PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA Private, 2-4 years | $23,624 | - | - | - | 141 | 59% | 15 to 1 |
| Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA Public, 2-4 years | $8,200 | - | - | - | 5,390 | 33% | 17 to 1 |
| American College of Hairstyling-Des Moines Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $21,977 | - | - | - | 22 | 77% | 8 to 1 |
| Capri College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,780 | - | - | - | 132 | 78% | 11 to 1 |
| Allen College Waterloo, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $19,512 | $18,700 | - | - | 662 | 100% | 9 to 1 |
| Capri College-Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,780 | - | - | - | 142 | 70% | 8 to 1 |
| Iowa Wesleyan University Mount Pleasant, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $25,280 | $6,600 | 990 | 58.00% | 616 | 31% | 10 to 1 |
| Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,736 | - | - | - | 13,906 | 32% | 19 to 1 |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | - | $19,184 | - | - | 139 | - | - |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Marshalltown Marshalltown, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,640 | - | - | - | 4 | - | 2 to 1 |
| La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology Mason City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,650 | - | - | - | 49 | 73% | 7 to 1 |
| William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $26,600 | $10,500 | 970 | 58.00% | 1,279 | 34% | 16 to 1 |
| Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $32,820 | $9,400 | 1,185 | 75.00% | 1,564 | 75% | 14 to 1 |
| Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 2-4 years | $3,880 | - | - | - | 22 | - | 12 to 1 |
| Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IA Public, 2-4 years | $5,904 | - | - | - | 796 | 29% | 19 to 1 |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $18,332 | - | - | 98.00% | 727 | 33% | 8 to 1 |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake Spirit Lake, IA Private, 2-4 years | $13,450 | - | - | - | 7 | 57% | 3 to 1 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $17,650 | $8,260 | 1,105 | 63.00% | 353 | 43% | 14 to 1 |
| North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA Public, 2-4 years | $8,277 | - | - | - | 2,995 | 47% | 22 to 1 |
| Aveda Institute-Des Moines West Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $21,100 | - | - | - | 147 | 76% | 15 to 1 |
| Grand View University Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $29,792 | $9,170 | 1,020 | 96.00% | 1,886 | 55% | 12 to 1 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,720 | - | - | - | 4,449 | 45% | 13 to 1 |
| Purdue University Global-Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $14,343 | $11,414 | - | - | 411 | - | 20 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Ottumwa Ottumwa, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,640 | - | - | - | 28 | 83% | 5 to 1 |
| La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,286 | - | - | - | 35 | 49% | 12 to 1 |
| American Hair Academy Mt. Pleasant, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,590 | - | - | - | 23 | 65% | 8 to 1 |
| Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,060 | - | - | - | 2,548 | 31% | 16 to 1 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,100 | - | - | - | 2,051 | 52% | 15 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,640 | - | - | - | 47 | 75% | 5 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City Sioux City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,640 | - | - | - | 44 | 64% | 6 to 1 |
| Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $33,308 | $10,530 | - | - | 1,229 | 40% | 11 to 1 |
| Capri College-Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,780 | - | - | - | 167 | 75% | 13 to 1 |
| Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,270 | - | - | - | 5,962 | 30% | 18 to 1 |
| La James International College-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,286 | - | - | - | 17 | 39% | 4 to 1 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Private, 2-4 years | $16,900 | - | - | - | 50 | 68% | 17 to 1 |
| Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public, 2-4 years | $10,200 | - | - | - | 23,474 | 31% | 19 to 1 |
| La James International College-Ft Dodge Fort Dodge, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,286 | - | - | - | 27 | 50% | 8 to 1 |
| Purdue University Global-Des Moines Urbandale, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $14,343 | $11,414 | - | - | 760 | - | 20 to 1 |
| Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $19,250 | - | 1,105 | 94.00% | 238 | 67% | 8 to 1 |
| Carlson College of Massage Therapy Anamosa, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $9,500 | - | - | - | 28 | 100% | 9 to 1 |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Storm Lake Storm Lake, IA Private, 2-4 years | $13,450 | - | - | - | 21 | 73% | 7 to 1 |
| Shiloh University Kalona, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $5,250 | $3,420 | - | 33.00% | 42 | - | 2 to 1 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,690 | - | - | - | 1,747 | 69% | 12 to 1 |
| Hamilton Technical College Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $14,275 | - | - | - | 134 | 77% | 10 to 1 |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $10,500 | $8,268 | - | - | 2,179 | - | 1 to 1 |
| La James International College-Iowa City Iowa City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,273 | - | - | - | 38 | 52% | 8 to 1 |
| Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA Public, 2-4 years | $5,880 | - | - | - | 3,918 | 38% | 14 to 1 |
| Southwestern Community College Creston, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,120 | - | - | - | 1,547 | 49% | 15 to 1 |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $4,000 | - | - | - | 16 | - | 8 to 1 |
| E Q School of Hair Design Council Bluffs, IA Private, 2-4 years | $18,750 | - | - | - | 58 | 49% | 12 to 1 |
| La James International College-Johnston Johnston, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,273 | - | - | - | 56 | 49% | 12 to 1 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA Public, 2-4 years | $4,512 | - | - | - | 5,674 | 40% | 16 to 1 |
| Divine Word College Epworth, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $13,780 | - | - | 63.00% | 57 | 100% | 4 to 1 |
| Loras College Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,218 | $10,820 | 1,055 | 75.00% | 1,489 | 67% | 13 to 1 |
| Purdue University Global-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $14,343 | $11,414 | - | - | 149 | - | 20 to 1 |
| Average | $20,363 | $13,524 | 1,117 | 68.18% | 2,936 | 59% | 12 to 1 |