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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa

20 Ranked Colleges
447 Degrees Awarded
$33,751 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2021-2022, 538,925 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In , liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $28,316 and had an average of $15,943 in loans still to pay off.

Across Iowa, there were 5,228 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,682 and $14,139 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 447 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,399 and $23,237 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. That schools that top this list have a program in liberal arts general studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa”.

Top 20 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa

1
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Simpson College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Indianola, Iowa. It awarded 20 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Simpson College

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Maharishi International University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Maharishi International University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fairfield, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at MIU

3
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grand View University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Grand View University

4
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 20 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #4 spot on the list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 183 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 57 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Northern Iowa

6

Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Graceland Lamoni is located in Lamoni, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Graceland University - Lamoni

7
Iowa Wesleyan crest
Iowa Wesleyan University
Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Iowa Wesleyan University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Iowa Wesleyan is located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Wesleyan

8
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Cornell College

9
Dordt crest
Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Sioux Center, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt Liberal Arts General Studies Report

10
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Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Mount Mercy University is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 12 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Mount Mercy University

11

University of Dubuque ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Dubuque

12

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 70 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

13
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Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Storm Lake, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at BVU

14

With a ranking of #14, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. UIU is located in Fayette, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UIU

15
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Loras Liberal Arts General Studies Report

16
Clarke crest
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 1 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Clarke

17
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Drake University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

18
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Waldorf University
Forest City, Iowa

Waldorf University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Waldorf is located in Forest City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Waldorf University

18
Wartburg crest
Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Wartburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waverly, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Wartburg

18
NWC crest
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

With a ranking of #18, Northwestern College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Orange City, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwestern College

Notes and References

References

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