by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Iowa Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 37 schools in Iowa, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Iowa to be the best school for overall quality in Iowa in this year’s ranking.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa is $64,762 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in Iowa list means Iowa State University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State make an average of $63,386 per year during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in Iowa list means University of Northern Iowa is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UNI make an average of $55,177 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grinnell College. The school came in at #4 in Iowa on this year’s overall quality ranking.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell make an average of $62,830 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Drake University. The school came in at #5 in Iowa on this year’s overall quality ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $71,901 during the early years of their career..
Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #6.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,018 during the early years of their career..
Iowa Central Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,046 during the early years of their career..
Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Graceland Lamoni go into careers with an average salary of $47,361 during the early years of their career.
Luther College landed the #9 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Luther is $59,850 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, Morningside College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Morningside is $55,494 during the early years of their career.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from St. Ambrose University make an average of $59,531 a year.
Simpson College landed the #12 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Simpson College make an average of $59,274 a year.
Southeastern Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Community College go into careers with an average salary of $36,882 during the early years of their career.
Waldorf University did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking, coming in at #14.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Waldorf make an average of $51,165 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #15, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Wartburg make an average of $56,201 a year.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Kirkwood Community College is $41,016 during the early years of their career.
Iowa Western Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa Western Community College is $42,793 during the early years of their career.
Northwestern College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from NWC make an average of $49,802 per year during the early years of their career.
Dordt University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Dordt make an average of $52,559 a year.
Marshalltown Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,010 during the early years of their career..
Central College landed the #21 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Central make an average of $54,317 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Coe College did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,125 during the early years of their career..
Hawkeye Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,849 during the early years of their career..
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,060 during the early years of their career..
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges in Iowa list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,776 during the early years of their career..
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.