2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Iowa
Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Iowa
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
University Of Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in liberal arts. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 203 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $40,791. Typical student debt for the program is $25,269.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from University Of Iowa
A rank of #2 makes Mount Mercy University one of the top schools for liberal arts. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Mount Mercy University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $50,431 in their early career. Mount Mercy University graduates carry a median of $27,709 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Mount Mercy University
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 738 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $31,453 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Iowa State University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 47 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,532. Typical student debt for the program is $28,623.
Get the full liberal arts details for Iowa State University
University Of Northern Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 59 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $40,009. Students borrow a median of $26,400 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Northern Iowa
Kirkwood Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 642 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $29,838 early in their careers. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $11,938 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Kirkwood Community College
North Iowa Area Community College earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Mason City. North Iowa Area Community College awarded about 294 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $27,433. Typical student debt for the program is $9,335.
See the full liberal arts program report for North Iowa Area Community College
Hawkeye Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 218 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $30,321 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,209 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Hawkeye Community College
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheldon. Northwest Iowa Community College awarded about 45 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of $27,677 early in their careers. Northwest Iowa Community College graduates carry a median of $8,414 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Northwest Iowa Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #10 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 94 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $31,936 in their early career. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $14,237 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Western Iowa Tech Community College
Indian Hills Community College placed #11 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 189 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Indian Hills Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Indian Hills Community College earn around $27,483 in the first couple years of their career. Indian Hills Community College graduates carry a median of $10,418 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Indian Hills Community College
Upper Iowa University earned the #12 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Upper Iowa University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $51,441 early in their careers. Upper Iowa University graduates carry a median of $23,093 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Upper Iowa University
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. About 308 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Eastern Iowa Community College District earn around $27,697 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Iowa Community College District graduates carry a median of $10,875 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Eastern Iowa Community College District
Grand View University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Grand View University graduates 54% of students within six years. Grand View University awarded about 15 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $39,996 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,973 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Grand View University
Iowa Western Community College came in at #15 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 197 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $28,291 early in their careers. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $11,193 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Central Community College came in at #16 for liberal arts this year. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. Iowa Central Community College awarded about 408 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $23,747 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,330.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Iowa Central Community College
Marshalltown Community College earned the #17 position for liberal arts this year. Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marshalltown. Marshalltown Community College awarded about 129 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Marshalltown Community College generally make around $29,836. Marshalltown Community College graduates carry a median of $9,960 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Marshalltown Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned the #18 position for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Calmar. There were roughly 110 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar generally make around $29,491. Typical student debt for the program is $11,821.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar
Iowa Lakes Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Iowa Lakes Community College awarded about 135 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Iowa Lakes Community College generally make around $31,966. Iowa Lakes Community College graduates carry a median of $11,003 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Iowa Lakes Community College
Southwestern Community College Creston placed #20 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a small public institution. There were roughly 93 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Community College Creston in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Southwestern Community College Creston earn a median of $28,706 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Southwestern Community College Creston
Southeastern Community College West Burlington came in at #21 for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public university. About 189 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Southeastern Community College West Burlington in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,968 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
See the full liberal arts program report for Southeastern Community College West Burlington
Ellsworth Community College landed the #22 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Iowa Falls, Ellsworth Community College is a small public university. There were roughly 53 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Ellsworth Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Ellsworth Community College earn a median of $22,519 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Get the full liberal arts details for Ellsworth Community College
Maharishi University Of Management ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. Maharishi University Of Management awarded about 43 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Maharishi University Of Management generally make around $73,644.
Get the full liberal arts details for Maharishi University Of Management
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 23 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
