Most Selective Colleges in Iowa
Ranked by acceptance rate (27 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofit | 15% | $17,648 | $62,830 |
| 2 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit | 52% | $22,601 | $48,936 |
| 3 | Drake University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | 64% | $29,127 | $71,901 |
| 4 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit | 64% | $18,745 | $57,125 |
| 5 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA · Private nonprofit | 68% | $25,807 | $52,559 |
| 6 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit | 71% | $31,320 | $55,494 |
| 7 | Luther College Decorah, IA · Private nonprofit | 72% | $23,097 | $59,850 |
| 8 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | 72% | $24,479 | $55,396 |
| 9 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA · Private nonprofit | 76% | $32,908 | $56,201 |
| 10 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA · Private nonprofit | 77% | $19,693 | $51,165 |
| 11 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA · Private nonprofit | 77% | $24,691 | $59,531 |
| 12 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit | 78% | $18,846 | $49,156 |
| 13 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofit | 80% | $23,634 | $53,460 |
| 14 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA · Private nonprofit | 80% | $25,907 | $49,802 |
| 15 | Graceland University-Lamoni Lamoni, IA · Private nonprofit | 81% | $18,504 | $47,361 |
| 16 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit | 83% | $20,168 | $60,787 |
| 17 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public | 84% | $22,531 | $64,762 |
| 18 | Central College Pella, IA · Private nonprofit | 86% | $23,377 | $54,317 |
| 19 | Simpson College Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit | 86% | $21,936 | $59,274 |
| 20 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | 89% | $23,386 | $51,190 |
| 21 | Iowa State University Ames, IA · Public | 89% | $18,589 | $63,386 |
| 22 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA · Public | 93% | $15,901 | $55,177 |
| 23 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA · Private nonprofit | 96% | $14,956 | $27,981 |
| 24 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit | 96% | $20,942 | $52,766 |
| 25 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | 99% | $21,774 | $52,824 |
| 26 | Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit | 100% | $26,924 | $62,234 |
| 27 | Loras College Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit | 100% | $20,716 | $58,289 |