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2025 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Iowa

17 Colleges in Iowa
5,228 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$31,562 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #3 in popularity, liberal arts / sciences & humanities is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 17 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Iowa ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 5,228 degrees in liberal arts / sciences & humanities to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School

Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Iowa Your choice of liberal arts / sciences & humanities school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Bachelor's Degrees in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Iowa list, to help you choose the best school for you. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Iowa

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree levels they offer.

10 Top Iowa Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities

1
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Graduate Certificate Highest Degree Type
191 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$40,791 Median Starting Salary

Every student who is interested in liberal arts / sciences & humanities has to check out University of Iowa. Iowa is a very large public university located in the small city of Iowa City. A Best Colleges rank of #80 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa is a great university overall.

There were approximately 191 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent year we have data available. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree recipients from University of Iowa earn a boost of about $9,229 above the typical income of liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University of Iowa

2
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
57 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$40,009 Median Starting Salary

University of Northern Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #270 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNI is a great university overall.

There were approximately 57 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at UNI in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree recipients from University of Northern Iowa get an earnings boost of around $8,447 over the average earnings of liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University of Northern Iowa

Sponsored
Associates Degree Type
AA in Liberal Arts Program Name

Strengthen your communication and critical-thinking skills with this online associate in liberal arts degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in AA in Liberal Arts from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
1,002 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$31,453 Median Starting Salary

It's hard to beat Des Moines Area Community College if you want to pursue a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the large suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #408 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means DMACC is a great college overall.

There were about 1002 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at DMACC in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program earn about $31,453 for their early career.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Des Moines Area Community College

4
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
412 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$23,747 Median Starting Salary

Every student pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities needs to take a look at Iowa Central Community College. Iowa Central Community College is a small public college located in the remote town of Fort Dodge. A Best Colleges rank of #498 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Iowa Central Community College is a great college overall.

There were approximately 412 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients typically earn about $23,747 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Iowa Central Community College

5
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
391 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$28,291 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #884 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Iowa Western Community College is a great college overall.

There were roughly 391 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program state that they receive average early career income of $28,291.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Iowa Western Community College

6
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
254 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$30,321 Median Starting Salary

Hawkeye Community College is a small public college located in the rural area of Waterloo. This college ranks 23rd out of 37 schools for overall quality in the state of Iowa.

There were approximately 254 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program state that they receive average early career wages of $30,321.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Hawkeye Community College

7
Southeastern Community College crest
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, IA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
217 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$24,968 Median Starting Salary

Located in the remote town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #795 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Southeastern Community College is a great college overall.

There were roughly 217 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern Community College in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make around $24,968 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Southeastern Community College

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA in General Studies Program Name

Maximize your transfer credits and complete your bachelor's degree faster with this flexible online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in BA in General Studies from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
152 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
5.3% Growth in Graduates

Marshalltown Community College is a small public college located in the town of Marshalltown. This college ranks 20th out of 37 colleges for overall quality in the state of Iowa.

There were roughly 152 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Marshalltown Community College in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program state that they receive average early career earnings of $29,836.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Marshalltown Community College

9
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
70 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$36,532 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small city of Ames, Iowa State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #88 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Iowa State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 70 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree program at Iowa State University earn $4,970 more than the average college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Iowa State University

10
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
733 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Degrees Awarded
$29,838 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a public college with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #837 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Kirkwood Community College is a great college overall.

There were about 733 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. After graduating, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients typically earn around $29,838 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Kirkwood Community College

Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Kansas 38 6,337
Minnesota 38 6,252
South Dakota 38 222
Missouri 38 8,234
Nebraska 36 1,607
North Dakota 35 953

View All Rankings >

Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Liberal Arts General Studies 5,228

View All Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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