by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Iowa Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 37 schools in Iowa, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2025 rankings named University of Iowa the best school in Iowa in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Iowa make an average of $64,762 a year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 in Iowa on this year’s overall quality ranking.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State is $63,386 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #3 in Iowa on this year’s overall quality ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UNI make an average of $55,177 per year during the early years of their career.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Grinnell College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Iowa.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell is $62,830 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 37 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Drake University landed the #5 spot on the list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Drake make an average of $71,901 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from DMACC make an average of $41,018 per year during the early years of their career.
Iowa Central Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa Central Community College is $42,046 during the early years of their career.
Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #8.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Graceland Lamoni go into careers with an average salary of $47,361 during the early years of their career.
Luther College landed the #9 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Luther make an average of $59,850 a year.
Morningside College landed the #10 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Morningside is $55,494 during the early years of their career.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose University go into careers with an average salary of $59,531 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Simpson College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Simpson College go into careers with an average salary of $59,274 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Southeastern Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Southeastern Community College make an average of $36,882 a year.
Waldorf University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Waldorf make an average of $51,165 a year.
Wartburg College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg go into careers with an average salary of $56,201 during the early years of their career.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Kirkwood Community College make an average of $41,016 a year.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Iowa Western Community College make an average of $42,793 a year.
Northwestern College landed the #18 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from NWC make an average of $49,802 per year during the early years of their career.
Dordt University landed the #19 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,559 during the early years of their career..
Marshalltown Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Marshalltown Community College make an average of $41,010 a year.
With a ranking of #21, Central College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Central make an average of $54,317 per year during the early years of their career.
Coe College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Coe make an average of $57,125 per year during the early years of their career.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Hawkeye Community College make an average of $42,849 a year.
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,060 during the early years of their career..
Northwest Iowa Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #25.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Iowa Community College make an average of $50,776 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.