2024 Best Colleges in Iowa
40
Colleges
$48,650
Avg Salary*
54%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
When 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.
Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Iowa to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. 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.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
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!
Top Colleges in Iowa
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Iowa State University the best school in Iowa in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree.Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,681 students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State go into careers with an average salary of $57,351 during the early years of their career.
Full Iowa State University Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa list. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,628 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,274 during the early years of their career..
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Out of the 40 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Grinnell College landed the #3 spot on the list.Grinnell, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 496 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Grinnell make an average of $59,488 a year.
Full Grinnell College Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #4 in Iowa on this year’s overall quality ranking.Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,013 students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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% During the early years of their career, graduates from UNI make an average of $49,563 a year.
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Drake University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Iowa. Drake is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,503 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Drake go into careers with an average salary of $63,528 during the early years of their career.
Full Drake University Report
Maharishi International University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. Located in Fairfield, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 603 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MIU make an average of $25,941 per year during the early years of their career.
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Luther College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 460 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Luther make an average of $51,981 per year during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #8, Dordt University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa list. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 456 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,164 during the early years of their career..
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With a ranking of #9, Morningside College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 614 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Morningside is $50,044 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Morningside College
Saint Ambrose University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. St. Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 909 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,600 during the early years of their career..
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Northwestern College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #11. NWC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 388 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from NWC make an average of $44,904 a year.
Full Northwestern College Report
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 3,727 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,097 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Des Moines Area Community College
Waldorf University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list. Located in Forest City, Iowa, the small private for-profit school handed out 959 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Waldorf make an average of $43,860 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Waldorf University
Simpson College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Indianola, Iowa that handed out 355 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Simpson College go into careers with an average salary of $50,628 during the early years of their career.
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Wartburg College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Wartburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waverly, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 303 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,864 during the early years of their career..
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Loras College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #16. Loras College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 393 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Loras make an average of $52,435 per year during the early years of their career.
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Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #17. UIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa. It awarded 1,464 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UIU make an average of $49,292 per year during the early years of their career.
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Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #18. Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lamoni, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 518 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Graceland Lamoni is $41,637 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Graceland University - Lamoni
Buena Vista University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #19. BVU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 567 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from BVU go into careers with an average salary of $44,699 during the early years of their career.
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Iowa Western Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,256 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Iowa Western Community College make an average of $38,863 a year.
Full Iowa Western Community College Report
Iowa Central Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It awarded 1,064 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa Central Community College make an average of $40,846 per year during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #22, Coe College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa list.Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 395 students in 2020-2021.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Coe make an average of $52,967 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Coe College
Mount Mercy University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 589 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Mount Mercy is $50,047 during the early years of their career.
Full Mount Mercy University Report
Clarke University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 241 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,254 during the early years of their career..
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Briar Cliff University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 281 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff is $47,922 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Briar Cliff University
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