Colleges in Iowa
All 74 colleges, community colleges and trade schools in Iowa that are currently approved for federal student aid, from the U.S. Department of Education. A complete list, not a ranking.
Schools74
College Scorecard
College Scorecard data, Most Recent Institution-Level file (release of 15 Oct 2026)U.S. Department of Education
- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Currently operating Title IV schools (CURROPER = 1). Cost = average annual cost of attendance (COSTT4_A, or COSTT4_P for program-year schools), net price = NPT4_PUB / NPT4_PRIV, both 2024-25; completion = C150_4 (four-year schools, fall 2019 cohort) or C150_L4 (fall 2022 cohort), within 150% of normal time.
View source4-year · 2-year · under 237 · 22 · 15Level of institution
Public · nonprofit · for-profit19 · 35 · 20Control
Award doctorates16In 2023-24, any field
Types of school
The federal data sort every school by the length of its longest program and by who runs it.
- Universities and 4-year colleges: 37Offer programs of four years or more (bachelor's and up); many also give associate degrees and certificates.
- Community and 2-year colleges: 22Longest program at least two but under four years: associate degrees and certificates.
- Trade and career schools (under 2 years): 15Every program under two years: certificates in trades, health care, beauty and other careers.
Public: 19 · private nonprofit: 35 · private for-profit: 20. Public schools usually charge state residents less; see Iowa's in-state tuition rules.
Colleges by city
6 cities have 3 or more schools; each has its own page comparing them. 36 smaller places have one or two schools; they are in the full list.
- Davenport7 schools · 3 4-year, 2 2-year, 2 under 2
- Dubuque6 schools · 5 4-year, 0 2-year, 1 under 2
- Cedar Rapids5 schools · 2 4-year, 2 2-year, 1 under 2
- Des Moines5 schools · 3 4-year, 2 2-year, 0 under 2
- Sioux City5 schools · 3 4-year, 2 2-year, 0 under 2
- Cedar Falls3 schools · 1 4-year, 0 2-year, 2 under 2
Every school in Iowa
Cost is the average yearly cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books and living costs) before aid; net price is that cost minus the average grant and scholarship aid. Both are for full-time first-year students who get federal aid. Completion is the share who finished within 150% of normal time.
74 schools
| School | City | Type | Cost a year | Net price | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State University | Ames | 4-year · Public | $24,539 | $18,517 | 77% |
| PCI Academy-Ames | Ames | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $23,234 | $22,697 | 83% |
| Carlson College of Massage Therapy | Anamosa | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $16,720 | $13,125 | 100% |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | 2-year · Public | $12,609 | $7,005 | 41% |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary | Ankeny | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $34,016 | $16,517 | 56% |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | 2-year · Public | $18,430 | $11,757 | 55% |
| College of Hair Design | Cedar Falls | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $18,503 | $12,660 | 69% |
| La James International College-Cedar Falls | Cedar Falls | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $28,382 | $23,813 | 85% |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | 4-year · Public | $22,977 | $16,038 | 69% |
| Capri College-Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $20,086 | $14,882 | 97% |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $70,325 | $18,647 | 60% |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | 2-year · Public | $18,463 | $12,073 | 47% |
| Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology | Cedar Rapids | 2-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $57,202 | $23,935 | 52% |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | 2-year · Public | $21,692 | $16,324 | 44% |
| SOHO Hair Academy | Council Bluffs | 2-year · Private for-profit | $20,072 | $14,400 | 50% |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston | 2-year · Public | $21,059 | $12,751 | 66% |
| Capri College-Davenport | Davenport | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $17,974 | $12,903 | 86% |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | 2-year · Public | $18,295 | $12,958 | 45% |
| La James International College-Davenport | Davenport | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $25,229 | $19,663 | 83% |
| Orion Technical College | Davenport | 4-year · Private for-profit | $29,328 | $24,072 | 67% |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic | Davenport | 4-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Ross College-Davenport | Davenport | 2-year · Private for-profit | $27,595 | $23,429 | 56% |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $53,069 | $23,689 | 70% |
| Luther College | Decorah | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $67,611 | $23,945 | 65% |
| Drake University | Des Moines | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $65,475 | $29,415 | 71% |
| Grand View University | Des Moines | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $49,220 | $21,705 | 49% |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines | Des Moines | 2-year · Private for-profit | $17,049 | $12,542 | 100% |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $36,014 | $25,670 | 55% |
| UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology | Des Moines | 2-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Capri College-Dubuque | Dubuque | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $21,268 | $15,567 | 90% |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $56,056 | $26,095 | 52% |
| Emmaus Bible College | Dubuque | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $31,828 | $9,580 | 67% |
| Loras College | Dubuque | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $54,674 | $22,910 | 64% |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $55,110 | $25,171 | 45% |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary | Dubuque | 4-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Divine Word College | Epworth | 4-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | 2-year · Public | $17,373 | $10,553 | 46% |
| Maharishi International University | Fairfield | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $29,280 | $16,579 | 27% |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $35,133 | $21,119 | 31% |
| Waldorf University | Forest City | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $45,052 | $24,003 | 43% |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | 2-year · Public | $19,280 | $12,725 | 41% |
| La James International College-Ft Dodge | Fort Dodge | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $22,550 | $17,652 | 79% |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $87,598 | $15,203 | 86% |
| Simpson College | Indianola | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $63,127 | $20,460 | 63% |
| PCI Academy-Iowa City | Iowa City | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $25,331 | $22,340 | 92% |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City | 4-year · Public | $29,219 | $22,508 | 76% |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | 2-year · Public | $18,816 | $12,300 | 43% |
| La James International College-Johnston | Johnston | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $28,756 | $18,719 | 77% |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | Lamoni | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $36,250 | $19,899 | 44% |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | 2-year · Public | $14,473 | $7,234 | 38% |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City | 2-year · Public | $15,733 | $8,510 | 62% |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $68,934 | $25,297 | 60% |
| American Hair Academy | Mt. Pleasant | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $15,300 | $11,157 | 74% |
| Northwestern College | Orange City | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $51,568 | $24,716 | 66% |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $44,104 | $23,749 | 38% |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | 2-year · Public | $18,926 | $11,505 | 41% |
| Central College | Pella | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $37,773 | $22,894 | 59% |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | 2-year · Public | $18,827 | $12,665 | 62% |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $53,336 | $25,944 | 72% |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $58,112 | $27,472 | 46% |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City | Sioux City | 2-year · Private for-profit | $22,797 | $15,073 | 100% |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $54,848 | $23,505 | 52% |
| St Luke's College | Sioux City | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $34,004 | $31,618 | 25% |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | 2-year · Public | $14,800 | $9,042 | 41% |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake | Spirit Lake | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $16,501 | $9,466 | 100% |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $56,872 | $18,855 | 58% |
| Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School | Urbandale | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $44,699 | $40,463 | 92% |
| Allen College | Waterloo | 4-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | 2-year · Public | $20,986 | $15,128 | 50% |
| Wartburg College | Waverly | 4-year · Private nonprofit | $42,796 | $23,374 | 68% |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | 2-year · Public | $19,716 | $12,346 | 54% |
| Aveda Institute-Des Moines | West Des Moines | Under 2-year · Private for-profit | $24,678 | $20,991 | 86% |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center | West Des Moines | 4-year · Private nonprofit | — | — | — |
— = not reported for that school. Names link to the school's College Navigator profile (admissions, aid, programs).
Where to earn a doctorate
Schools in Iowa that awarded a doctor's degree (research, professional practice such as MD, JD or PharmD, or other) in 2023-24, and the fields they awarded it in.
- Iowa State UniversityAmes · PublicAgricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields · Natural Resources and Conservation · Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services · Education · Engineering · Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences · English Language and Literature/Letters · Biological and Biomedical Sciences · Mathematics and Statistics · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies · Physical Sciences · Psychology · Social Sciences · Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services · History
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny · Private nonprofitTheology and Religious Vocations
- University of Northern IowaCedar Falls · PublicEducation
- Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- Palmer College of ChiropracticDavenport · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs · Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Drake UniversityDes Moines · Private nonprofitEducation · Legal Professions and Studies · Health Professions and Related Programs
- Clarke UniversityDubuque · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- University of DubuqueDubuque · Private nonprofitTheology and Religious Vocations
- Maharishi International UniversityFairfield · Private nonprofitEducation · Biological and Biomedical Sciences · Philosophy and Religious Studies · Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- University of IowaIowa City · PublicCommunication, Journalism, and Related Programs · Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services · Education · Engineering · Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics · Legal Professions and Studies · English Language and Literature/Letters · Biological and Biomedical Sciences · Mathematics and Statistics · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies · Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology · Philosophy and Religious Studies · Physical Sciences · Psychology · Public Administration and Social Service Professions · Social Sciences · Visual and Performing Arts · Health Professions and Related Programs · Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services · History
- Graceland University-LamoniLamoni · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- Briar Cliff UniversitySioux City · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- Morningside UniversitySioux City · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- Allen CollegeWaterloo · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
- Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical CenterWest Des Moines · Private nonprofitHealth Professions and Related Programs
About these numbers
- Which schools
- Every school in the College Scorecard file of 15 Oct 2026 that is currently operating and approved for federal student aid (Title IV). Schools that do not take federal aid are not in the file.
College Scorecard
College Scorecard data, Most Recent Institution-Level file (release of 15 Oct 2026)U.S. Department of Education- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Currently operating Title IV schools (CURROPER = 1). Cost = average annual cost of attendance (COSTT4_A, or COSTT4_P for program-year schools), net price = NPT4_PUB / NPT4_PRIV, both 2024-25; completion = C150_4 (four-year schools, fall 2019 cohort) or C150_L4 (fall 2022 cohort), within 150% of normal time.
View source - Type and control
- The federal "level of institution" (4-year, 2-year, less than 2-year) and control (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit) as the school reports them.
- Cost a year
- Average annual cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses, for full-time, first-time undergraduates who receive federal aid, 2024-25. Program-year schools (most trade schools) report it per program year.
College Scorecard
College Scorecard data dictionary and cohort mapU.S. Department of Education- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Net price
- That cost minus the average grant and scholarship aid, 2024-25. What a family pays depends on income: every school's own net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
- Completion
- Share of full-time, first-time students who completed a degree or certificate at the school within 150% of normal time: at four-year schools, students who started in fall 2019 (or the 2019-20 year); at other schools, fall 2022 (or 2022-23). Rounded to a whole percent.
- Fields and doctorates
- From the awards each school reported to NCES IPEDS for 2023-24 (July 2023 – June 2024, first majors), grouped into CIP 2020 families; the level shown is the highest award made in that family that year. A school that made no award in a field that year is not listed for it.
NCES IPEDS
IPEDS Completions, 2023-24 (complete data file C2024_A)National Center for Education Statistics- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Not shown
- Rankings, admission chances and program accreditation. Check accreditation with the accreditor and in the Department of Education's DAPIP database before you enroll.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- College Scorecard data, Most Recent Institution-Level file (release of 15 Oct 2026) · U.S. Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- IPEDS Completions, 2023-24 (complete data file C2024_A) · National Center for Education Statistics checked 2026-10-21
- College Scorecard data dictionary and cohort map · U.S. Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020, code file · National Center for Education Statistics checked 2026-10-21
- College Navigator · National Center for Education Statistics checked 2026-10-07