Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

39 Best Universities in Iowa State

Our data-driven ranking evaluates 39 elite institutions across Iowa State to determine true academic prominence. The algorithmic evaluation processed 396.1K scholarly outputs and 12.24M peer-reviewed citations, mapping the region's total research impact. The ranking also highlights the real-world influence of these universities, represented by 92.3K notable alumni globally.

Active Filters: Iowa State Bachelor's Clear All

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1

Iowa City

University of Iowa

#49 in United States #53 in North America

84% Acceptance

22,738 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

2

Ames

Iowa State University

#53 in United States #57 in North America

89% Acceptance

25,628 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

3

Cedar Falls

University of Northern Iowa

#305 in United States #338 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

4

Des Moines, IA

Drake University

#396 in United States #442 in North America

64% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1881 Founded

5

Grinnell

Grinnell College

#434 in United States #481 in North America

15% Acceptance

1,788 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

6

Decorah

#690 in United States #754 in North America

72% Acceptance

1,384 Enrollment

1242 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

7

Davenport

Palmer College of Chiropractic

#712 in United States #779 in North America

49% Acceptance

511 Enrollment

$23,515 Net Price

8

Des Moines, IA

Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medical Center

#736 in United States #804 in North America

23% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1336 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

9

Fairfield, IA

Maharishi University of Management

#875 in United States #944 in North America

96% Acceptance

922 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

10

Dubuque

Clarke University

#891 in United States #961 in North America

72% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1843 Founded

11

Sioux Center

#907 in United States #978 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,716 Enrollment

1200 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

12

Davenport

Saint Ambrose University

#1009 in United States #1082 in North America

77% Acceptance

6,045 Enrollment

1050 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

13

Pella

Central College

#1022 in United States #1095 in North America

86% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1088 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

14

Sioux

Morningside College

#1039 in United States #1113 in North America

71% Acceptance

1,172 Enrollment

1141 Avg SAT

1894 Founded

15

Waverly

Wartburg College

#1041 in United States #1115 in North America

76% Acceptance

1,462 Enrollment

1065 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

16

Cedar Rapids

#1058 in United States #1132 in North America

64% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1180 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

17

Orange City

Northwestern College

#1115 in United States #1190 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,184 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

18

Fayette, IA

Upper Iowa University

#1163 in United States #1238 in North America

96% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

967 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

19

Indianola

Simpson College

#1188 in United States #1264 in North America

86% Acceptance

1,235 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

20

Mount Vernon, IA

Cornell College

#1271 in United States #1349 in North America

80% Acceptance

3,988 Enrollment

1203 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

21

Dubuque

University of Dubuque

#1279 in United States #1357 in North America

89% Acceptance

1,440 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

22

Storm Lake

Buena Vista University

#1304 in United States #1382 in North America

78% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

23

Dubuque

#1305 in United States #1383 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,123 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

24

Lamoni

Graceland University – Lamoni

#1319 in United States #1397 in North America

81% Acceptance

798 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

25

Forest City

Waldorf University

#1435 in United States #1520 in North America

77% Acceptance

1,834 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1903 Founded

26

Cedar Rapids

Mount Mercy University

#1454 in United States #1539 in North America

83% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1928 Founded

27

Des Moines, IA

Grand View University

#1465 in United States #1551 in North America

99% Acceptance

3,716 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1896 Founded

28

Sioux

Briar Cliff University

#1473 in United States #1559 in North America

100% Acceptance

766 Enrollment

1141 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

29

Oskaloosa

William Penn University

#1559 in United States #1645 in North America

52% Acceptance

6,033 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1873 Founded

30

Waterloo, IA

#1721 in United States #1809 in North America

86% Acceptance

25,916 Enrollment

1010 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

31

Dubuque

Wartburg Theological Seminary

#1800 in United States #1889 in North America

83% Acceptance

313 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

32

Mount Pleasant, IA

Iowa Wesleyan University

#1820 in United States #1909 in North America

94% Acceptance

1842 Founded

$20,074 Net Price

33

Epworth

Divine Word College

#1854 in United States #1945 in North America

100% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

1010 Avg SAT

$3,083 Net Price

34

Des Moines, IA

Mercy College of Health Sciences

#1924 in United States #2016 in North America

100% Acceptance

867 Enrollment

19 Avg ACT

1899 Founded

35

Ankeny

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

#2128 in United States #2225 in North America

68% Acceptance

551 Enrollment

1090 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

36

Dubuque

Emmaus Bible College

#2151 in United States #2250 in North America

60% Acceptance

234 Enrollment

1220 Avg SAT

1941 Founded

37

Davenport

Hamilton Technical College

#2237 in United States #2338 in North America

100% Acceptance

41 Enrollment

$27,001 Net Price

38

Sioux

St Luke’s College

#2283 in United States #2384 in North America

80% Acceptance

176 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

$18,248 Net Price

39

Kalona

Shiloh University

#2419 in United States #2520 in North America

91% Acceptance