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Clarke University tops our 2026 ranking of the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 63.9, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 62 schools that stand out for their student bodies in Iowa, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the balance of men and women across the student body. To help you decide, College Factual analyzed 62 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal mix depends on what matters most to you. Refine the list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Clarke University tops our 2026 ranking of the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 63.9, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Orion Technical College came in at #2 on this year's Most Gender-Balanced Colleges ranking in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 56.0, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa Lakes Community College one of the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 48.9, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
A rank of #4 makes William Penn University one of the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 63.1, and gender diversity 100.0.
A rank of #5 makes Coe College one of the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. Coe College scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 59.1, and gender diversity 100.0.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Iowa Western Community College scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 62.5, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Wartburg College placed #7 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. Wartburg College scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 37.7, alongside a 99.9 gender-diversity score.
Emmaus Bible College landed the #8 spot in Iowa this year. Emmaus Bible College scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 48.0, and gender diversity 99.9.
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary landed the #9 spot in Iowa this year. It scores 99.8 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 33.2, and gender diversity 99.8.
Central College earned the #10 position in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 99.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 34.2, and gender diversity 99.8.
Graceland University-Lamoni ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. On gender diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.4, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
Cornell College earned the #12 position in Iowa. On gender diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 49.8, alongside a 99.7 gender-diversity score.
Indian Hills Community College placed #13 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 99.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 44.0, alongside a 99.7 gender-diversity score.
Dordt University placed #14 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 99.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 39.2, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
Simpson College landed the #15 spot in Iowa this year. On gender diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 44.7, alongside a 99.7 gender-diversity score.
Luther College earned the #16 position in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 99.6 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 44.6, and gender diversity 99.6.
Grinnell College landed the #17 spot in Iowa this year. Grinnell College scores 99.6 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 67.5, with a gender-diversity score of 99.6.
Ellsworth Community College landed the #18 spot in Iowa this year. The school's gender diversity score is 99.5 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 50.2, and gender diversity 99.5.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #19 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. Des Moines Area Community College scores 99.4 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 53.1, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
Iowa Central Community College earned the #20 position in Iowa. The school's gender diversity score is 99.4 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 62.9, and gender diversity 99.4.
Iowa State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. On gender diversity, it scores 99.4 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 50.5, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
Maharishi International University landed the #22 spot in Iowa this year. On gender diversity, it scores 99.4 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 73.4, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
University of Dubuque came in at #23 in this year's ranking. It scores 99.1 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 52.5, and gender diversity 99.1.
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center placed #24 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Iowa. On gender diversity, it scores 99.1 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 46.3, and gender diversity 99.1.
University of Iowa earned the #25 position in Iowa. On gender diversity, it scores 99.1 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 50.5, and gender diversity 99.1.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the balance of men and women across the student body. The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.