2027 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Iowa
Liberal Arts General Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts general studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts general studies education in Iowa.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts General Studies
Our analysis ranked University Of Iowa the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 204 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Iowa earn around $40,791 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,269 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for University Of Iowa
Mount Mercy University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #2. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Mount Mercy University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Mount Mercy University
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 834 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $31,453 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Des Moines Area Community College
Iowa State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 47 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $36,532 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $28,623 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Iowa State University
University Of Northern Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $40,009 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,400 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from University Of Northern Iowa
Kirkwood Community College came in at #6 for liberal arts general studies this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. There were roughly 642 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $29,838 in their early career. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $11,938 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Kirkwood Community College
North Iowa Area Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. About 294 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at North Iowa Area Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $27,433 early in their careers. North Iowa Area Community College graduates carry a median of $9,335 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for North Iowa Area Community College
Hawkeye Community College placed #8 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Hawkeye Community College awarded about 218 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $30,321 early in their careers. Hawkeye Community College graduates carry a median of $14,209 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Hawkeye Community College
Northwest Iowa Community College earned the #9 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Sheldon. About 45 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northwest Iowa Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $27,677 in their early career. Northwest Iowa Community College graduates carry a median of $8,414 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Northwest Iowa Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 94 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies 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 general studies from Western Iowa Tech Community College
Indian Hills Community College placed #11 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Indian Hills Community College awarded about 189 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $27,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,418.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Indian Hills Community College
Upper Iowa University placed #12 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Fayette. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Upper Iowa University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Upper Iowa University earn around $51,441 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,093 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Upper Iowa University
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. Eastern Iowa Community College District awarded about 308 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Eastern Iowa Community College District earn around $27,697 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,875.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Eastern Iowa Community College District
Grand View University placed #14 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Grand View University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $39,996 in their early career. Grand View University graduates carry a median of $25,973 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Grand View University
Iowa Western Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. About 267 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $28,291 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,193.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Central Community College earned the #16 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. There were roughly 410 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Iowa Central Community College earn around $23,747 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,330 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Iowa Central Community College
Marshalltown Community College came in at #17 for liberal arts general studies 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 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies 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 general studies details for Marshalltown Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Calmar. There were roughly 127 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $29,491 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,821.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar
Iowa Lakes Community College placed #19 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Estherville. About 135 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Iowa Lakes Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Iowa Lakes Community College generally make around $31,966. Students borrow a median of $11,003 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Iowa Lakes Community College
Southwestern Community College Creston landed the #20 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a small public institution. Southwestern Community College Creston awarded about 94 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Creston generally make around $28,706. Southwestern Community College Creston graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Southwestern Community College Creston
Southeastern Community College West Burlington placed #21 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. Southeastern Community College West Burlington awarded about 189 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $24,968 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Southeastern Community College West Burlington
Ellsworth Community College came in at #22 for liberal arts general studies this year. Ellsworth Community College is a small public school located in the town of Iowa Falls. About 54 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Ellsworth Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Ellsworth Community College earn around $22,519 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Ellsworth Community College
Maharishi University Of Management placed #23 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Maharishi University Of Management graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Maharishi University Of Management in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $73,644 in their early career.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Maharishi University Of Management
More Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings
View All Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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.