2024 Iowa Colleges Comparison
In Iowa, 73 colleges are active and serve higher education to students. By school type, there are 19 public schools and 54 private schools. By school level, 37 4-years (or high) schools, 30 2-4 years schools (community colleges), and 6 less than 2 years schools (career, technical or vocational schools) are active this year based on the IPEDS data.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees at Iowa colleges is $19,381 for state residents and $21,830 for out-of-state students in 2024. The graduate tuition & fee is $11,279 for state residents and $13,746 for out-of-state students. A total of 2,797 students enrolled in Iowa colleges including 2,463 undergraduate and 1,041 graduate students.
Most Compared Iowa Colleges
The following Iowa college pairs are frequently compared by users. You can compare the schools by their most important academic factors such as acceptance rate and tuition.
2024 Statistics for Iowa Colleges
Of the 73 Iowa schools, Grinnell College ranked first and Drake University ranked second (view more at Iowa college rankings).
The 2024 average tuition & fees of all Iowa colleges is $19,381 for Iowa residents and $21,830 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 77.63% and the average SAT score is 1,141. The average number of students is 2,797 and the average student to faculty ratio is 13 to 1.
The below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for Iowa colleges. For the statistics, we include only 4-years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
In addition, for some statistics, we include only eligible colleges, for example, for the graduate tuition & fees over colleges that offer the graduate programs.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees of Iowa colleges are $21,830 and Grinnell College has the highest tuition & fees of $64,862 and Palmer College of Chiropractic has the lowest tuition & fees of $11,400.
- The average graduate tuition & fees of Iowa colleges are $13,746 and University of Iowa has the highest tuition & fees of $34,882 and Cornell College has the lowest tuition & fees of $2,800.
- The average SAT score of Iowa colleges is 1,141 and Grinnell College has the highest SAT score of 1,490 and William Penn University has the lowest score of 950.
- The average acceptance rate of Iowa colleges is 77.63% and Grinnell College has the tightest (lowest) rate of 13% and Wartburg College has the loosest (lowest) rate of 99%.
- The average student population of Iowa colleges is 2,797 and University of Iowa has the most students of 30,015 and Divine Word College has the fewest students of 68.
- The average graduation rate of Iowa colleges is 60.42% and St Luke's College has the highest rate of 100% and Waldorf University has the lowest rate of 25%.
Iowa Colleges Core Statistics Comparison
The following table lists colleges located in Iowa ordered by college ranking. The ranking is targeting only 4-years universities and colleges. The "-" value in other columns means that the corresponding data has not been reported or the school does not have programs for the values.
You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using the buttons below.
| College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $64,862 | - | 1,490 | 13.0% | 1,759 | 88% | 9 to 1 |
| Drake University Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $49,944 | $12,777 | 1,280 | 64.0% | 4,685 | 76% | 10 to 1 |
| Simpson College Indianola, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $46,212 | $7,244 | - | 89.0% | 1,151 | 66% | 10 to 1 |
| Luther College Decorah, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $50,320 | - | 1,210 | 73.0% | 1,610 | 74% | 11 to 1 |
| Iowa State University Ames, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $27,683 | $29,303 | 1,240 | 89.0% | 29,969 | 74% | 18 to 1 |
| Wartburg College Waverly, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $51,040 | $11,500 | 1,045 | 99.0% | 1,444 | 67% | 13 to 1 |
| William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $28,750 | $10,500 | 950 | 57.0% | 1,473 | 29% | 18 to 1 |
| Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $16,530 | $29,530 | - | 96.9% | 2,673 | 50% | 13 to 1 |
| University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $32,927 | $34,882 | 1,220 | 85.0% | 30,015 | 73% | 16 to 1 |
| Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $19,000 | $18,958 | 1,050 | 93.0% | 3,072 | 42% | 13 to 1 |
| Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $39,070 | $11,410 | - | 79.0% | 1,526 | 57% | 13 to 1 |
| University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $40,065 | $9,020 | 1,060 | 87.0% | 1,776 | 39% | 9 to 1 |
| Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $33,646 | $11,991 | - | 83.0% | 1,237 | 48% | 13 to 1 |
| University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public, 4 years four-years | $21,272 | $22,834 | 1,130 | 94.0% | 8,945 | 63% | 17 to 1 |
| Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $52,576 | - | 1,170 | 71.0% | 1,264 | 65% | 10 to 1 |
| Morningside University Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $38,190 | $11,111 | - | 71.0% | 2,249 | 56% | 13 to 1 |
| Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,598 | $19,405 | - | 73.0% | 2,747 | 64% | 12 to 1 |
| Central College Pella, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,988 | - | 1,080 | 79.0% | 1,169 | 71% | 13 to 1 |
| Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $50,634 | $2,800 | 1,235 | 81.0% | 1,073 | 63% | 13 to 1 |
| Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,960 | $9,820 | 1,130 | 71.0% | 1,861 | 67% | 14 to 1 |
| SOHO Hair Academy Council Bluffs, IA Private, 2-4 years | $22,131 | - | - | - | 30 | 72% | 8 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,756 | - | - | - | 77 | 66% | 6 to 1 |
| Waldorf University Forest City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $25,220 | $5,220 | - | 73.0% | 2,763 | 25% | 24 to 1 |
| Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,930 | - | - | - | 5,342 | 36% | 19 to 1 |
| Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,000 | - | 1,040 | 97.7% | 206 | 81% | 7 to 1 |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | - | $21,052 | - | - | 186 | - | - |
| Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,470 | - | - | - | 4,355 | 48% | 15 to 1 |
| Allen College Waterloo, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $24,456 | $19,028 | - | - | 497 | - | 9 to 1 |
| Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,968 | - | - | - | 12,406 | 35% | 19 to 1 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $19,530 | $7,940 | 1,080 | 50.0% | 448 | 54% | 15 to 1 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA Public, 2-4 years | $5,186 | - | - | - | 5,150 | 42% | 13 to 1 |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center West Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | - | $19,428 | - | - | 1,527 | - | - |
| La James International College-Johnston Johnston, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,311 | - | - | - | 57 | 65% | 14 to 1 |
| Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $40,190 | $10,170 | - | 72.0% | 1,973 | 57% | 12 to 1 |
| Grand View University Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $33,450 | $9,278 | - | 98.0% | 1,827 | 52% | 12 to 1 |
| Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology Cedar Rapids, IA Private, 2-4 years | $4,255 | - | - | - | 22 | - | 11 to 1 |
| PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA Private, 2-4 years | $27,988 | - | - | - | 126 | 94% | 15 to 1 |
| Capri College-Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $19,180 | - | - | - | 142 | 71% | 12 to 1 |
| La James International College-Ft Dodge Fort Dodge, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,311 | - | - | - | 21 | 100% | 11 to 1 |
| Orion Technical College Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $15,600 | - | - | - | 75 | 86% | 11 to 1 |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake Spirit Lake, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $13,000 | - | - | - | 19 | 100% | 10 to 1 |
| St Luke's College Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $20,940 | - | - | 44.4% | 196 | 100% | 6 to 1 |
| Clarke University Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $39,600 | $12,224 | 980 | 68.0% | 965 | 57% | 9 to 1 |
| American Hair Academy Mt. Pleasant, IA Private, 2-4 years | $17,590 | - | - | - | 20 | 71% | 10 to 1 |
| Aveda Institute-Des Moines West Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $21,100 | - | - | - | 180 | 100% | 15 to 1 |
| Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA Public, 2-4 years | $5,808 | - | - | - | 1,707 | 35% | 17 to 1 |
| Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,668 | - | - | - | 5,058 | 37% | 19 to 1 |
| Southwestern Community College Creston, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,720 | - | - | - | 1,581 | 52% | 17 to 1 |
| Divine Word College Epworth, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $15,050 | - | - | - | 68 | 100% | 6 to 1 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City Sioux City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $19,756 | - | - | - | 13 | 66% | 3 to 1 |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology Des Moines, IA Private, 2-4 years | $4,000 | - | - | - | 19 | - | 10 to 1 |
| North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA Public, 2-4 years | $9,245 | - | - | - | 2,479 | 54% | 21 to 1 |
| Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,312 | - | - | - | 718 | 29% | 15 to 1 |
| Northwestern College Orange City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $35,300 | $6,600 | - | 87.0% | 1,651 | 62% | 15 to 1 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,288 | - | - | - | 7,145 | 39% | 20 to 1 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $16,900 | - | - | - | 94 | 70% | 24 to 1 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,410 | - | - | - | 1,811 | 64% | 15 to 1 |
| Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $34,727 | $9,366 | - | - | 927 | 43% | 12 to 1 |
| La James International College-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA Private, 2-4 years | $11,145 | - | - | - | 39 | 44% | 13 to 1 |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $11,400 | $10,725 | - | - | 2,178 | - | 6 to 1 |
| La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology Mason City, IA Private, 2-4 years | $20,650 | - | - | - | 59 | 71% | 7 to 1 |
| Capri College-Dubuque Dubuque, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $19,180 | - | - | - | 175 | 71% | 11 to 1 |
| Ross College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, 2-4 years | $16,297 | - | - | - | 28 | 61% | 8 to 1 |
| Loras College Dubuque, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $38,298 | $13,440 | - | 92.0% | 1,319 | 67% | 12 to 1 |
| Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,598 | - | - | - | 4,787 | 33% | 15 to 1 |
| Carlson College of Massage Therapy Anamosa, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $10,375 | - | - | - | 32 | 100% | 7 to 1 |
| La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, 2-4 years | $11,145 | - | - | - | 96 | 50% | 24 to 1 |
| Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,120 | - | - | - | 3,361 | 36% | 15 to 1 |
| Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA Public, 2-4 years | $6,450 | - | - | - | 2,476 | 38% | 12 to 1 |
| Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public, 2-4 years | $11,100 | - | - | - | 21,637 | 33% | 19 to 1 |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA Private, 4 years four-years | $22,360 | $12,736 | - | 98.8% | 911 | 44% | 8 to 1 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA Public, 2-4 years | $7,644 | - | - | - | 1,960 | 37% | 14 to 1 |
| Capri College-Davenport Davenport, IA Private, Less than 2 years | $19,180 | - | - | - | 146 | 68% | 13 to 1 |
| Average | $21,830 | $13,746 | 1,141 | 77.6% | 2,797 | 60% | 13 to 1 |