by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Iowa, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **23** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 23 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is Drake University, our #1 college in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Des Moines, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,228. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete a degree here.
University Of Iowa came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Iowa. Based in Iowa City, IA, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,463.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the top colleges in Iowa. Based in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,900. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Grinnell College earned it the #4 place in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Grinnell, IA. Grinnell College posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Students from in state pay about $68,196 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,888 early in their careers. Grinnell College students take on a median of $17,154 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the top colleges in Iowa. This public school is set in Cedar Falls, IA. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. University Of Northern Iowa graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,054. The median student debt is $22,635.
Luther College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Decorah, IA, Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Luther College graduates 71% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,120. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,426. Graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans.
Simpson College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Indianola, IA. Simpson College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,656. Simpson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,888. The median student debt is $26,816.
Wartburg College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waverly, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $26,250. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,918 early in their careers. Wartburg College students take on a median of $26,793 in debt.
Coe College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Coe College is a private not-for-profit school based in Cedar Rapids, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $54,666. Median early-career earnings reach $44,511. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete a degree here.
Northwestern College Iowa placed #10 among the best colleges in Iowa. Set in Orange City, IA, Northwestern College Iowa is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,845. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete a degree here.
Central College did well this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pella, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $20,988 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $39,953. Graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
Saint Ambrose University placed #12 among the best colleges in Iowa. This private not-for-profit school is set in Davenport, IA. Saint Ambrose University graduates 61% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $36,658. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,252 early in their careers. Saint Ambrose University students take on a median of $27,528 in debt.
Dordt College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Sioux Center, IA, Dordt College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,050. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,926. Dordt College students take on a median of $21,812 in debt.
Loras College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Loras College is a private not-for-profit school based in Dubuque, IA. Loras College graduates 68% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,824 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,117. Graduates carry a median of $26,528 in student loans.
Cornell College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mount Vernon, IA. Cornell College posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,660. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,545 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Morningside College placed #16 among the best colleges in Iowa. Set in Sioux City, IA, Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,519. Median early-career earnings reach $54,988. Typical student debt is $27,281.
Mount Mercy University landed the #17 spot in Iowa this year. Mount Mercy University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cedar Rapids, IA. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,878. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete a degree here.
Allen College landed the #18 spot in Iowa this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waterloo, IA. Students from in state pay about $24,787 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $82,049. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete a degree here.
Grand View University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Des Moines, IA, Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution. Grand View University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,762. Grand View University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,180. The median student debt is $26,941.
Briar Cliff University placed #20 among the best colleges in Iowa. Based in Sioux City, IA, Briar Cliff University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,642. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,105 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,918.
Palmer College Of Chiropractic Davenport did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Davenport, IA, Palmer College Of Chiropractic Davenport is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,760. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,093.
Buena Vista University placed #22 among the best colleges in Iowa. Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit school based in Storm Lake, IA. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,780. The median student debt is $29,317.
Mercy College Of Health Sciences landed the #23 spot in Iowa this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Des Moines, IA. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,664. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,029 early in their careers. Mercy College Of Health Sciences students take on a median of $32,929 in debt.
University Of Dubuque ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Dubuque, IA, University Of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $42,095. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,808. Students borrow a median of $27,204 to complete a degree here.
Clarke University landed the #25 spot in Iowa this year. Located in Dubuque, IA, Clarke University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,910. Median early-career earnings reach $53,450. Students borrow a median of $26,895 to complete a degree here.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
