by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen it comes to choosing a college, international students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Colleges for International Students in Iowa ranking.
After analyzing 25 schools in Iowa, we came up with our list of those that offered the best educational experiences for international students in Iowa. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as the total number of international students at the school and the school's overall quality.
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to online students or returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our 2021 rankings named Iowa State University the best school for international students in Iowa working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Ames, Iowa, the large public school handed out 6,998 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 8.1% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Iowa State are China, India, and Malaysia.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2021 Best Colleges for international students in Iowa list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the large public school handed out 5,998 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 5.9% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Iowa come from such countries as China, South Korea, and India.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Grinnell College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for international students in Iowa. Grinnell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grinnell, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 496 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 19.0% are international. Students studying at Grinnell come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Drake University. The school came in at #4 in this year’s ranking. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 838 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 2.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Malaysia, China, and Vietnam come to Drake to study.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 25 schools in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Luther College landed the #5 spot on the list. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 460 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 7.9% are international. Students from as far away as Vietnam, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe come to Luther to study.
University of Northern Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,555 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 3.5% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at UNI come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, China, and Mexico.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Cornell College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking. Located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 314 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 4.5% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, Vietnam, and Japan come to Cornell College to study.
Coe College landed the #8 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 395 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 2.3% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as Japan, China, and Germany come to Coe to study.
Wartburg College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa list. Located in Waverly, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 303 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 6.8% are international. Students studying at Wartburg come from such countries as Swaziland, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa list. St. Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 626 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 2.3% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at St. Ambrose University come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, India, and United Kingdom.
Northwestern College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking, coming in at #11. NWC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Orange City, Iowa. It awarded 283 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 2.1% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as United Kingdom, Brazil, and Nepal come to NWC to study.
Simpson College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianola, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 341 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 1.5% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Simpson College are Mexico, France, and Nigeria.
Loras College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking. Loras is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 340 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 1.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Colombia, France, and Nepal come to Loras to study.
Mount Mercy University landed the #14 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa. Mount Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 430 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 3.2% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Mount Mercy are Germany, Serbia, and United Kingdom.
Maharishi International University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking, coming in at #15. Maharishi International University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fairfield, Iowa that handed out 134 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 42.6% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at MIU are Nepal, Ethiopia, and China.
Clarke University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking, coming in at #16. Clarke is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 161 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 1.9% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Clarke come from such countries as United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Australia.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Emmaus Bible College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking, coming in at #17. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.1% are international. Students studying at Emmaus Bible College come from such countries as Canada, South Korea, and India.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Morningside College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 285 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.7% are international. Students studying at Morningside come from such countries as Germany, Brazil, and Japan.
Grand View University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking. Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 521 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 2.5% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Grand View University are United Kingdom, Rwanda, and Brazil.
University of Dubuque landed the #20 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa. UD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 423 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 4.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at UD come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, China, and Taiwan.
Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa list. Lamoni, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 289 students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 4.1% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Graceland Lamoni come from such countries as Canada, Venezuela, and Colombia.
Buena Vista University landed the #22 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa. BVU is located in Storm Lake, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 399 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 0.2% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at BVU come from such countries as Rwanda, South Korea, and Burundi.
With a ranking of #23, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa. Located in Fayette, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,084 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.9% are international. Students studying at UIU come from such countries as Malaysia, United Kingdom, and Nigeria.
William Penn University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa ranking. Oskaloosa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 214 students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 5.0% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at William Penn University are United Kingdom, Rwanda, and Australia.
With a ranking of #25, Waldorf University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for international Students in Iowa. This small private for-profit school is located in Forest City, Iowa, and it awarded 540 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 2.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Canada, Brazil, and Germany come to Waldorf to study.
View Best Colleges for International Students Nationwide >
Footnotes
*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.