State Rankings
Best Colleges in Iowa
Top colleges in Iowa ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes — updated 2026.
Top Colleges in Iowa
Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.
| State # | School | Grad Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell College Grinnell#95 national | $62,830 |
| 2 | Drake University Des Moines#182 national | $71,901 |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames#260 national | $63,386 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City#311 national | $64,762 |
| 5 | Luther College Decorah#368 national | $59,850 |
| 6 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport#457 national | $59,531 |
| 7 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls#467 national | $55,177 |
| 8 | Loras College Dubuque#527 national | $58,289 |
| 9 | Dordt University Sioux Center#602 national | $52,559 |
| 10 | Coe College Cedar Rapids#622 national | $57,125 |
| 11 | Cornell College Mount Vernon#643 national | $53,460 |
| 12 | Central College Pella#648 national | $54,317 |
| 13 | Simpson College Indianola#650 national | $59,274 |
| 14 | Wartburg College Waverly#740 national | $56,201 |
| 15 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids#853 national | $60,787 |
| 16 | Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon#930 national | $50,776 |
| 17 | Northwestern College Orange City#941 national | $49,802 |
| 18 | Clarke University Dubuque#949 national | $55,396 |
| 19 | Morningside University Sioux City#1017 national | $55,494 |
| 20 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City#1130 national | $43,462 |
| 21 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge#1204 national | $42,046 |
| 22 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown#1223 national | $41,010 |
| 23 | Grand View University Des Moines#1295 national | $52,824 |
| 24 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake#1341 national | $49,156 |
| 25 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville#1357 national | $43,108 |
| 26 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids#1365 national | $41,016 |
| 27 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo#1368 national | $42,849 |
| 28 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny#1401 national | $41,018 |
| 29 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa#1421 national | $40,507 |
| 30 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs#1424 national | $42,793 |
| 31 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City#1455 national | $54,475 |
| 32 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar#1456 national | $41,306 |
| 33 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City#1457 national | $40,473 |
| 34 | Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls#1495 national | $40,562 |
| 35 | Southwestern Community College Creston#1620 national | $40,129 |
| 36 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport#1675 national | $39,060 |
| 37 | Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines#1713 national | $62,234 |
| 38 | University of Dubuque Dubuque#2005 national | $51,190 |
| 39 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington#2022 national | $36,882 |
| 40 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni#2192 national | $47,361 |
| 41 | Upper Iowa University Fayette#2257 national | $52,766 |
| 42 | William Penn University Oskaloosa#2263 national | $48,936 |
| 43 | Maharishi International University Fairfield#2611 national | $27,981 |
| 44 | Allen College Waterloo | $71,261 |
| 45 | St Luke's College Sioux City | $61,033 |
| 46 | Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport | $59,483 |
| 47 | Emmaus Bible College Dubuque | $42,631 |
| 48 | Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary Ankeny | $40,650 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.
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