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Lists / Top 10 Colleges in Iowa

Top 10 Colleges in Iowa

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Created by College Confidential
Photo: Vlada Karpovich/Pexels

From small liberal arts schools like Grinnell to The University of Iowa, these colleges are the best the state of Iowa has to offer in 2022. See our list below for further information on each school, which includes top-ranked and popular schools including Cornell College, Drake University, Grinnell College and more!

1. Grinnell College

Grinnell is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1846. The 120-acre campus has several spots that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, plus state-of-the-art student center and athletics facilities. Grinnell is known for top-notch academics and a commitment to social justice.

Grinnell is considered on of the ten best value schools in the U.S. The College's large endowment allows it to offer need-blind admissions and significant merit scholarships to accepted students.

It tied with Vassar for #13 Best Liberal Arts College in 2021.

  • 1st
    Grinnell College
    Grinnell, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,480
    Out-of-State
    $61,480
    Acceptance Rate11%

    • 2. The University of Iowa

    UIowa is a public research university in Iowa City, and the states oldest university. The 1,880-acre campus is an urban setting, the banks of the Iowa River. Iowa is a Big 10 school and the Hawkeyes are Division I members of the NCAA. The university is also a member of the Association of American Universities and the Universities Research Association.

    In 2021, the University of Iowa was ranked 88th for national universities. It tied for 34th among public universities with several other schools including Colorado School of the Mines, SUNY Binghamton, Stonybrook and Buffalo, and University of California Riverside.

  • 2nd
    The University of Iowa
    Iowa City, IA • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $9,942
    Out-of-State
    $31,905
    Acceptance Rate86%

    • 3. Drake University

    Drake University is mid-sized private university that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Drake offers D1 athletics and over a 160 student organizations for over 5000 students.

  • 3rd
    Drake University
    Des Moines, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $45,912
    Out-of-State
    $45,912
    Acceptance Rate69%

    • 4. Iowa State University of Science and Technology

  • 4th
    In-State
    $9,634
    Out-of-State
    $25,446
    Acceptance Rate91%

    • 5. Luther College

  • 5th
    Luther College
    Decorah, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $48,160
    Out-of-State
    $48,160
    Acceptance Rate76%

    • 6. Cornell College

  • 6th
    Cornell College
    Mount Vernon, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $47,726
    Out-of-State
    $47,726
    Acceptance Rate81%

    • 7. Clarke University

  • 7th
    Clarke University
    Dubuque, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $37,480
    Out-of-State
    $37,480
    Acceptance RateN.A.

    • 8. Coe College

  • 8th
    Coe College
    Cedar Rapids, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $47,220
    Out-of-State
    $47,220
    Acceptance Rate73%

    • 9. Central College

  • 9th
    Central College
    Pella, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $19,250
    Out-of-State
    $19,250
    Acceptance Rate64%

    • 10. Simpson College

  • 10th
    Simpson College
    Indianola, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $45,108
    Out-of-State
    $45,108
    Acceptance Rate91%

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