2025 Iowa Colleges Comparison
In Iowa, 75 colleges are active and serve higher education to students. By school type, there are 19 public schools and 56 private schools. By school level, 37 4-years (or high) schools, 23 2-4 years schools (community colleges), and 15 less than 2 years schools (career, technical or vocational schools) are active this year based on the IPEDS data.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees at Iowa colleges is $19,465 for state residents and $21,420 for out-of-state students in 2025. The graduate tuition & fee is $11,310 for state residents and $13,305 for out-of-state students. A total of 2,862 students enrolled in Iowa colleges including 2,534 undergraduate and 1,034 graduate students.
Most Compared Iowa Colleges
The following Iowa college pairs are frequently compared by users. You can compare the schools by their most important academic factors such as acceptance rate and tuition.
2025 Statistics for Iowa Colleges
Of the 75 Iowa schools, Capri College-Dubuque ranked first and La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology ranked second (view more at Iowa college rankings).
The 2025 average tuition & fees of all Iowa colleges is $19,465 for Iowa residents and $21,420 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 77.76% and the average SAT score is 1,166. The average number of students is 2,862 and the average student to faculty ratio is 14 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 of Iowa colleges are $21,420 and Grinnell College has the highest tuition & fees of $68,196 and Palmer College of Chiropractic has the lowest tuition & fees of $11,760.
- The average graduate tuition & fees of Iowa colleges are $13,305 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 of Iowa colleges is 1,166 and Grinnell College has the highest SAT score of 1,490 and William Penn University has the lowest score of 990.
- The average acceptance rate of Iowa colleges is 77.76% and Grinnell College has the tightest (lowest) rate of 15% and Loras College has the loosest (lowest) rate of 100%.
- The average student population of Iowa colleges is 2,862 and University of Iowa has the most students of 30,779 and Orion Technical College has the fewest students of 41.
- The average graduation rate of Iowa colleges is 63.36% and St Luke's College has the highest rate of 100% and Waldorf University has the lowest rate of 21%.
Iowa Colleges Core Statistics Comparison
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capri College-Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $19,180 | - | - | - | 165 | 74% | 12 to 1 |
| La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology Mason City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $20,650 | - | - | - | 56 | 76% | 7 to 1 |
| William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $29,750 | $10,500 | 990 | 51.9% | 1,425 | 33% | 15 to 1 |
| PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $14,988 | - | - | - | 176 | 77% | 15 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $9,172 | - | - | - | 74 | 81% | 11 to 1 |
| SOHO Hair Academy Council Bluffs, IA Private, 2-4 years | $22,131 | - | - | - | 66 | 76% | 11 to 1 |
| North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA Public, 2-4 years | $9,551 | - | - | - | 2,662 | 61% | 23 to 1 |
| Loras College Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $39,824 | $13,530 | - | 99.9% | 1,189 | 68% | 12 to 1 |
| Ross College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, 2-4 years | $16,297 | - | - | - | 42 | 65% | 40 to 1 |
| Orion Technical College Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $15,600 | $12,600 | - | - | 41 | 81% | 6 to 1 |
| St Luke's College Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $23,335 | - | - | 80.0% | 176 | 100% | 7 to 1 |
| Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,080 | - | - | - | 5,540 | 40% | 22 to 1 |
| Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,504 | - | - | - | 685 | 38% | 16 to 1 |
| Simpson College Indianola, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $47,656 | $9,204 | - | 86.2% | 1,251 | 63% | 12 to 1 |
| Carlson College of Massage Therapy Anamosa, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $9,000 | - | - | - | 39 | 100% | 5 to 1 |
| American Hair Academy Mt. Pleasant, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $17,680 | - | - | - | 25 | 44% | 13 to 1 |
| Allen College Waterloo, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $24,787 | $19,314 | - | - | 483 | - | 8 to 1 |
| Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public, 2-4 years | $8,220 | - | - | - | 12,763 | 43% | 20 to 1 |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | - | $21,658 | - | - | 161 | - | - |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,456 | - | - | - | 7,426 | 45% | 20 to 1 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,650 | - | - | - | 1,907 | 58% | 16 to 1 |
| Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,788 | - | - | - | 4,949 | 42% | 19 to 1 |
| Southwestern Community College Creston, IA Public, 2-4 years | $8,316 | - | - | - | 1,566 | 59% | 14 to 1 |
| Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,690 | - | - | - | 23,697 | 39% | 21 to 1 |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $17,664 | $12,736 | - | 99.7% | 869 | 66% | 7 to 1 |
| PCI Academy-Iowa City Iowa City, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $14,988 | - | - | - | 113 | 71% | 15 to 1 |
| La James International College-Johnston Johnston, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $23,441 | - | - | - | 141 | 88% | 28 to 1 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA Public, 2-4 years | $5,330 | - | - | - | 5,482 | 50% | 14 to 1 |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $11,760 | $10,725 | - | - | 2,161 | - | 9 to 1 |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $4,000 | $4,000 | - | - | 16 | - | 10 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City Sioux City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,756 | - | - | - | 67 | 72% | 11 to 1 |
| Capri College-Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $19,180 | - | - | - | 129 | 65% | 10 to 1 |
| La James International College-Ft Dodge Fort Dodge, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $23,441 | - | - | - | 22 | 90% | 11 to 1 |
| Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 2-4 years | $4,255 | $4,255 | - | - | 21 | - | 11 to 1 |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake Spirit Lake, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $14,000 | - | - | - | 22 | 92% | 7 to 1 |
| Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,612 | - | - | - | 5,120 | 43% | 13 to 1 |
| La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $11,559 | - | - | - | 127 | 91% | 21 to 1 |
| Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,800 | - | 1,200 | 59.8% | 234 | 83% | 8 to 1 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,770 | - | - | - | 4,808 | 51% | 15 to 1 |
| Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,570 | - | - | - | 3,028 | 43% | 14 to 1 |
| Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,504 | - | - | - | 1,857 | 42% | 20 to 1 |
| Aveda Institute-Des Moines West Des Moines, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $21,100 | - | - | - | 244 | 88% | 15 to 1 |
| Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,120 | - | - | - | 3,184 | 40% | 16 to 1 |
| La James International College-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $11,655 | - | - | - | 54 | 71% | 18 to 1 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $16,900 | - | - | - | 91 | 52% | 23 to 1 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,270 | $7,940 | 1,070 | 67.5% | 611 | 68% | 14 to 1 |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center West Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | - | $32,060 | - | - | 1,534 | - | - |
| Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,872 | - | - | - | 1,945 | 50% | 13 to 1 |
| Capri College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $19,180 | - | - | - | 135 | 82% | 10 to 1 |
| Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School Urbandale, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $16,915 | - | - | - | 45 | 90% | 10 to 1 |
| Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $68,196 | - | 1,490 | 14.5% | 1,788 | 88% | 9 to 1 |
| Drake University Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $51,960 | $12,825 | 1,300 | 63.9% | 4,345 | 74% | 11 to 1 |
| Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $37,050 | $10,990 | 1,225 | 68.5% | 1,952 | 70% | 14 to 1 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $28,881 | $30,577 | 1,250 | 88.7% | 30,380 | 75% | 18 to 1 |
| University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $33,371 | $32,372 | 1,230 | 83.6% | 30,779 | 75% | 16 to 1 |
| Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $40,878 | $12,148 | - | 82.5% | 1,417 | 58% | 14 to 1 |
| Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $41,798 | $9,061 | - | 77.6% | 1,890 | 62% | 13 to 1 |
| Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $19,475 | $20,185 | - | 96.5% | 3,941 | 34% | 25 to 1 |
| University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $21,712 | $23,304 | 1,170 | 92.7% | 9,278 | 68% | 18 to 1 |
| Wartburg College Waverly, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $26,250 | $12,000 | 1,030 | 75.8% | 1,483 | 64% | 13 to 1 |
| Luther College Decorah, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $52,120 | - | 1,215 | 71.5% | 1,384 | 71% | 9 to 1 |
| Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $16,530 | $16,530 | - | 95.7% | 2,592 | 50% | 13 to 1 |
| Central College Pella, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,988 | - | 1,100 | 86.2% | 1,084 | 66% | 11 to 1 |
| Morningside University Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $39,519 | $11,516 | - | 71.0% | 2,056 | 50% | 12 to 1 |
| Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $54,666 | - | 1,150 | 64.0% | 1,195 | 66% | 11 to 1 |
| Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,642 | $9,738 | - | - | 947 | 48% | 10 to 1 |
| Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $19,848 | $11,991 | - | 80.8% | 1,102 | 42% | 12 to 1 |
| Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $52,660 | $2,800 | 1,200 | 79.9% | 1,094 | 62% | 14 to 1 |
| University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $42,095 | $9,530 | 1,090 | 88.6% | 1,757 | 40% | 10 to 1 |
| Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $36,658 | $17,209 | 1,050 | 77.3% | 2,498 | 61% | 11 to 1 |
| Northwestern College Orange City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $36,710 | $6,790 | - | 80.4% | 1,705 | 66% | 15 to 1 |
| Waldorf University Forest City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $25,978 | $5,340 | - | 77.0% | 2,225 | 21% | 22 to 1 |
| Grand View University Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $34,762 | $9,550 | - | 99.1% | 1,856 | 54% | 12 to 1 |
| Clarke University Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $40,910 | $12,237 | 1,060 | 71.8% | 962 | 56% | 9 to 1 |
| Divine Word College Epworth, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $15,600 | - | - | - | 64 | 100% | 5 to 1 |
| Average | $21,420 | $13,305 | 1,166 | 77.8% | 2,862 | 63% | 14 to 1 |