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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