Colleges in Iowa

Founded in 1847, the University of Iowa is a 4-year public research institution in Iowa City, often considered one of the nation’s top college towns. Iowa grants undergraduate degrees in over 200 academic majors, minors, and certificate programs. The...

Iowa State University is a public, land-grant university located in Ames, IA. The 1,813-acre campus features 6 undergraduate colleges offering 100+ majors, as well as residence hall, apartment-style, and Greek-life housing options for more than 35...

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is a public university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. While it started as a teacher training institution in 1876, UNI now offers more than 150 areas of study for undergraduates  spanning from business and...

Calling Des Moines, Iowa, its home, Drake University is a midsize, private institution of higher learning with more than 70 majors available to its undergraduate students. Cultivated over 130 years of educating, The Drake Curriculum features small...

Founded in 1846, Grinnell College is a 4-year liberal arts college located in central Iowa. Grinell offers bachelor’s degrees in 27 academic majors and 13 concentrations. For environmentally-minded Grinellians, the college is home to the Conard...

Cornell College is a liberal arts institution situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa, that was founded in 1853. Deemed “more selective,” Cornell is one of only 40 schools profiled by Loren Pope's book "Colleges That Change Lives" and also ranks as a top tier...

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a 4-year private school in northeast Iowa. UIU hosts schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, and Education conferring undergraduate degrees in 45 academic programs. Additionally, UIU makes 32 bachelor’s degrees...

Founded by Norwegian immigrants, Luther College is a 4-year liberal arts college in northeast Iowa affiliated with the Lutheran Church. Luther confers bachelor’s degrees in more than 60 academic majors and preprofessional programs. For students...

Grand View University is a 4-year, liberal arts institution located in the capital city of Iowa, Des Moines. GV offers 40 academic programs on their 50-acre urban campus, where students are immersed in the university’s Viking culture. On top of...

Founded in 1851, Coe College is small liberal arts institution and national leader in producing Fulbright Scholars. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and has a “more selective” admissions process. Coe College requires that 100%...

Wartburg College is a liberal arts institution affiliated with the Lutheran Church (ELCA) located in Waverly, Iowa. Founded in 1852, Wartburg has grown to offer more than 50 academic majors and preprofessional programs for its 1,500 students hailing...

Established by the Religious Society of Friends in 1873, William Penn University is a liberal arts institution in central Iowa affiliated with the Quakers. William Penn is home to seven academic divisions conferring degrees in over 20 majors. As a...

Established in 1853, Central College is a private, 4-year institution located on a 130-acre campus in Pella, Iowa. The college offers over 50 major and minor programs of study, and boasts a 76% rate of students completing internships. Central College...

Kirkwood Community College is a two-year institution based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school operates eight other campuses throughout the state. The school operates its own Hotel at Kirkwood Center which is assisted by Hospitality and Culinary Arts...

Morningside College is a 4-year liberal arts college in northwest Iowa affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Morningside is home to over 65 undergrad degree-granting and pre-professional programs. Every school year culminates in May Term, a...

The University of Dubuque was founded in 1852 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The school is based in Dubuque, Iowa, and follows a “Diamond” educational model that centers itself around Community and Character, Academics, Vocation, and...

With campus situated on a hilltop formerly covered in briar patches, Briar Cliff University is a Franciscan Catholic liberal arts college in northwest Iowa. Briar Cliff confers undergraduate degrees in over 40 academic majors. For students who wish...

Mount Mercy University is a private, 4-year liberal arts university. Offering over 50 undergraduate, pre-professional, and graduate programs, MMU provides an affordable education that promises solid preparation for a changing world. Founded in 1928...

Dordt University integrates faith into every aspect of campus, whether academics, athletics, music, or social activities. Students are challenged and invested in, which creates a vibrant and close-knit campus community. Dordt offers four-year...

Simpson College is a private, 4-year institution established in Indianola, Iowa. Simpson features a unique Engaged Citizenship core curriculum which includes the Simpson Colloquium for first years as well as a Senior Capstone project. The college is...

Founded in 1839, Loras College is a liberal arts school affiliated with the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Loras is the first college created in Iowa and is rated as having “selective” admissions. All first-year students are required to complete a January...

Iowa Western Community College is a public institution located in the city of Council Bluffs. Each student attending IWCC is assigned to an academic advisor with knowledge of specific careers to guide their academic progress. Along with vocational...

Iowa Central Community College is a public, 2-year institution established in the city of Fort Dodge. Along with the main campus, the college also maintains satellite locations in Webster City, Storm Lake, and Eagle Grove. Iowa Central offers over 90...

Northwestern College Iowa is a private, Christ-centered institution established on a rural, 100-acre campus in Orange City. Students are required to complete 28 chapel credits out of the 62 offered per semester. Northwestern maintains over 50 major...

Hawkeye Community College is a public, 2-year institution established in Waterloo, Iowa, with satellite facilities in Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Dubuque, Des Moines, Davenport, and Sioux City, as well as in four other states. HCC offers over 40 career...

Clarke University is a private, 4-year institution established on urban, 55-acre campus in Dubuque, Iowa. Clarke offers over 40 undergraduate major and minor areas of study, as well as six graduate programs, and Adult & Continuing Education programs...

Southeastern Community College is a 2-year college with two campuses and two extension sites in Iowa’s Great River Region. SCC is home to seven academic departments hosting 34 degree and certificate-granting programs. The college’s IT & Multimedia...

Buena Vista University is a private, 4-year institution established in Storm Lake, Iowa. The college offers over 50 academic programs and 90 majors and minors, with primary focus given to their Science, Education, and Business programs. As the...

Indian Hills Community College is a 2-year community college with three campuses serving 10 counties in southeast Iowa. In addition to over 70 academic programs, IHCC offers more than 250 online courses and three degrees are attainable entirely...

Founded in 1882, Saint Ambrose University is a private institution that provides a liberal arts curriculum in the “Catholic Intellectual Tradition.” Admissions are rated as “selective” and the campus is home to several buildings listed on the...

Iowa Wesleyan University is a private, liberal arts institution established in the city of Mount Pleasant. IW’s campus embraces its rich history, featuring the Harlan-Lincoln House museum, the Belle Babb Mansfield Symposium, the PEO Memorial Building...

Des Moines Area Community College is Iowa’s largest and most diverse 2-year community college. In addition to the numerous academic programs DMACC offers on its various campuses, distance learning students can also earn four different degrees...

Graceland University Lamoni is a private, 4-year institution established in Decatur County, Iowa. The Lamoni campus offers programs in over 50 major and minor fields of study, including a number of paraprofessional programs. All undergraduate...

Iowa Lakes Community College is a 2-year college serving five counties in northwest Iowa. ILCC is home to seven academic departments offering over 40 degree and certificate programs. As a rural institution, ILCC features programs in Agriculture...

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy as a nursing school in 1899, the Mercy College of Health Sciences is a Catholic health science institution in Des Moines. Mercy College offers five bachelor’s degree programs in Healthcare Administration, Health...

Ellsworth Community College is a 2-year college with two campuses in northern Iowa. While most academic courses are held on the main Ellsworth campus, ECC’s Agricultural and Animal Sciences department is headquartered at the college’s Robert & Arlene...

Maharishi International University is built on the idea of “consciousness-based education,” which encourages students to gain deep self-knowledge while earning undergrad and advanced degrees. MIU has programs in 10 academic departments that all run...

Palmer College of Chiropractic is a private, medical institution primarily located in Davenport, Iowa. The college has two additional campuses in San Jose and Port Orange, both of which offer only doctorate degrees. Students can finish their Bachelor...

Marshalltown Community College is a public, 2-year institution with two campuses located in Grinnell and Marshalltown, Iowa. MCC offers over 50 academic programs throughout eight fields of study, awarding diplomas, certificates, and associate’s...

Allen College is a school of healthcare and nursing in northern Iowa affiliated with UnityPoint Health. In addition to its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Nursing, Allen also confers bachelor’s degrees in Health Science, associate degrees...

Western Iowa Tech Community College is a 2-year institution in Sioux City. WITCC offers degrees and certificates in over 70 academic fields of study and the college’s Culinary Arts program includes a demonstration kitchen for students to practice...

Located just off the banks of the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, Emmaus Bible College is a 4-year Christ-centered private school. Emmaus is affiliated with the Open Brethren, so attendance at daily chapel is mandatory, and all classes utilize...

North Iowa Area Community College is a 2-year institution and the oldest community college in Iowa. NIACC offers over 35 academic programs and its Agriculture Division features a Farm Lab, which includes livestock facilities and 260 acres of land for...

Northeast Iowa Community College is a 2-year institution with two main campuses and 11 learning centers. NICC offers degrees and certificates in 67 areas of study within nine academic departments. The college’s Agriculture and Dairy Science programs...

Established in 1966, Northwest Iowa Community College is a public, 2-year institution located in Sheldon. NCC offers nearly 40 career-oriented and academic programs on-campus, online, and in hybrid formats, awarding associate’s degrees and...

Established in 1966, Southwestern Community College is a public, 2-year institution located in Creston, Iowa, with satellite centers in Osceola and Red Oak. SWCC offers over 80 associate’s degree and college transfer programs, as well as diploma and...

St. Luke’s College is a healthcare studies institution and the only hospital-based health sciences college in western Iowa. St. Luke’s offers bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Health Science as well as three healthcare-based associate degree programs...

The Eastern Iowa Community Colleges consist of three 2-year institutions along Iowa’s Mississippi River border: Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott Community Colleges. EICC are home to 20 academic career clusters conferring associate degrees as well as 32...

Divine Word College is a private, Christ-centered institution located in Epworth, Iowa. DWC offers associate and bachelor-level degrees in Intercultural Studies and Theology & Religious Studies, along with an associate’s degree in Interdisciplinary...

Des Moines University is a graduate school of health sciences and Iowa’s largest medical school. DMU offers five master’s degrees and three doctorates through the university’s Colleges of Health Sciences, Osteopathic Medicine, and Podiatric Medicine...

Established in 1921, Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary is a private, Christ-centered institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. Faith offers 13 one- to four-year undergraduate programs, as well as a Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry...

Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wartburg Theological Seminary is a Christian graduate school in eastern Iowa with a focus on mission work. Wartburg grants master’s degrees in Divinity, Arts, and Diaconal Ministry. As an Evangelical...

Established in 2006, Shiloh University is an online, Christ-centered institution based in Kalona, Iowa. The college offers eight undergraduate and seven postgraduate degree and certificate programs, as well as two feature areas: Chaplain Education...

The UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology is a medical imaging academy in Iowa’s state capital. UnityPoint Health-Des Moines offers a 2-year certificate-granting program in Radiologic Technology featuring classroom sessions and...

Formed by the merger of two radiologic technology schools, Mercy-St. Luke’s School of Radiologic Technology is a medical school in eastern Iowa. Mercy-St. Luke’s hosts a 24-month academic program and confers a certificate in Radiologic Technology...