The best college in Iowa on the University Review Rankings List is the University of Iowa (in-depth look) placed at 75th top college in the USA rankings and 138th in the world rankings; this university is a member of the public Ivies. Other renown colleges in the state include the Iowa State University (75th USA; and 138th world; more). The following smaller institutions are all ranked highly by Forbes in their listings (rank in parentheses): Grinnell College (58th best in the US); Drake University (143rd); Clarke University (146th); Luther College (237th); Cornell College (298th); Northwestern College (332nd); Coe College (339th); Simpson College (404th); University of Northern Iowa (484th); and Wartburg College (545th).
List of Iowa Colleges
| Name | Address | Type | Number of UG Students | In-State Tuition | Out of State Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIB College of Business | 2500 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321 | Private | 1019 | $15,600 | $15,600 | 69% | 1921 |
| Allen College | 1825 Logan Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50703 | Private | 397 | $19,295 | $19,295 | 1989 | |
| Ashford University | 400 North Bluff Boulevard, Clinton, IA 52732 | Private | 1000 | $10,312 | $10,312 | 1918 | |
| Briar Cliff University | 3303 Rebecca Street, Sioux City, IA 51104 | Private | 1042 | $27,102 | $27,102 | 54% | 1930 |
| Buena Vista University | 610 W. Fourth Street, Storm Lake, IA 50588 | Private | 920 | $30,406 | $30,406 | 70% | 1891 |
| Central College | 812 University Street, Pella, IA 50219 | Private | 1386 | $32,124 | $32,124 | 66% | 1853 |
| Clarke University | 1550 Clarke Drive, Dubuque, IA 52001 | Private | 1001 | $28,900 | $28,900 | 78% | 1843 |
| Coe College | 1220 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 | Private | 1420 | $37,230 | $37,230 | 62% | 1851 |
| Cornell College | 600 First Street SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314 | Private | 1125 | $37,500 | $37,500 | 59% | 1853 |
| Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center | 3200 Grand Avenue #8, Des Moines, IA 50312 | Private | 1,850 (Grad) | 1898 | |||
| Divine Word College | 102 Jacoby Drive SW, Epworth, IA 52045 | Private | 1931 | ||||
| Dordt College | 498 Fourth Avenue NE, Sioux Center, IA 51250 | Private | 1376 | $27,460 | $27,460 | 76% | 1955 |
| Drake University | 2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311 | Private | 3383 | $32,246 | $32,246 | 66% | 1881 |
| Emmaus Bible College | 2570 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52001 | Private | 200 | $15,390 | $15,390 | 1941 | |
| Faith Baptist Bible College & Theological Seminary | 1900 Northwest 4th Street, Ankeny, IA 50023 | Private | 229 | $15,546 | $15,546 | 66% | 1921 |
| Graceland University | 1 University Place, Lamoni, IA 50140 | Private | 1559 | $24,920 | $24,920 | 50% | 1895 |
| Grand View University | 1200 Grandview Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316 | Private | 2096 | $23,516 | $23,516 | 92% | 1896 |
| Grinnell College | 1115 8th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112 | Private | 1721 | $45,620 | $45,620 | 35% | 1846 |
| Iowa State University | 100 Enrollment Services Center, Ames, IA 50011 | Private | 27659 | $7,731 | $20,617 | 86% | 1858 |
| Iowa Wesleyan College | 601 N. Main Street, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 | Private | 650 | $25,550 | $25,550 | 60% | 1842 |
| Kaplan University | 1801 East Kimberly Road #1, Davenport, IA 52807 | Private | 43,000 (online) | 1937 | |||
| Loras College | 1450 Alta Vista, Dubuque, IA 52004 | Private | 1554 | $29,729 | $29,729 | 69% | 1839 |
| Luther College | 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 | Private | 2466 | $38,370 | $38,370 | 72% | 1861 |
| Maharishi University of Management | 1000 North Fourth Street, Fairfield, IA 52557 | Private | $26,430 | $26,430 | 1971 | ||
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | 928 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309 | Private | 1899 | ||||
| Morningside College | 1501 Morningside Avenue, Sioux City, IA 51106 | Private | 1305 | $27,180 | $27,180 | 53% | 1894 |
| Mount Mercy University | 1330 Elmhurst Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 | Private | 1476 | $27,010 | $27,010 | 69% | 1828 |
| Northwestern College | 101 Seventh Street SW, Orange City, IA 51041 | Private | 1233 | $27,930 | $27,930 | 76% | 1882 |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic | 1000 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803 | Private | 1897 | ||||
| Saint Ambrose University | 518 W. Locust Street, Davenport, IA 52803 | Private | 2743 | $27,540 | $27,540 | 71% | 1882 |
| Saint Luke's College | 2800 Pierce Street #410, Sioux City, IA 51104 | Private | 1890 | ||||
| Simpson College | 701 North C Street, Indianola, IA 50125 | Private | 1712 | $32,550 | $32,550 | 88% | 1860 |
| University of Dubuque | 2000 University Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001 | Private | 1695 | $25,520 | $25,520 | 77% | 1852 |
| University of Iowa | 107 Calvin Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242 | Public | 21974 | $8,079 | $27,409 | 80% | 1847 |
| University of Northern Iowa | 1227 W. 27th Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50614 | Public | 10380 | $7,749 | $17,647 | 83% | 1876 |
| Upper Iowa University | 605 Washington Street, Fayette, IA 52142 | Private | 4632 | $26,834 | $26,834 | 58% | 1857 |
| Waldorf College | 106 S. Sixth Street, Forest City, IA 50436 | Private | 1150 | $20,316 | $20,316 | 51% | 1903 |
| Wartburg College | 100 Wartburg boulevard, Waverly, IA 50677 | Private | 1714 | $36,120 | $36,120 | 78% | 1852 |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary | 333 Wartburg Place, Dubuque, IA 52003 | Private | 1854 | ||||
| William Penn University | 201 West Trueblood Avenue, Oskaloosa, IA 52577 | Private | 1728 | $23,210 | $23,210 | 58% | 1873 |
Size wise the largest colleges by undergraduate student body are the Iowa State University (27,659 students) and the University of Iowa (21,974 students). While the smallest establishments include Allen College (397 students) and Iowa Wesleyan College (650 students).
Cost wise, of the main public higher education establishments the cheapest tuition fees are offered by Iowa State University (In-state tuition: $7,731; Out of state fees: $20,617), and the University of Northern Iowa (In-state: $7,749; Out of state: $17,647).
Conversely the highest priced public establishment in the list of Iowa colleges is the University of Iowa ($8,079 In-state tuition fees and $27,409 Out of state fees).
Of the private institutions, the lowest priced establishments are Ashford University ($10,312) and the AIB College of Business ($15,600), whilst the most expensive universities in Iowa state include Grinnell College ($45,620), Luther College ($38,370), and Cornell College ($37,500).
The most selective colleges are Grinnell College (35% acceptance rate) and Graceland University (50%). The oldest college in Iowa is the Mount Mercy University, established in 1828.