2022 Iowa Best Colleges Tuition Comparison

This page compares the best colleges in Iowa with tuition, admission, and more academic facts (Ranking data from College Evaluator). For the academic year 2021-2022, Grinnell College rank first in the best Iowa college ranking and Drake University is placed in second.

Admission Comparison Between Best Colleges in Iowa

3 public and 7 private schools rank in the best Iowa colleges. The schools' average acceptance rate is 70.50% where Grinnell College has the tightest (lowest) acceptance rate of 19% and Iowa State University has the highest rate of 88%. Total 85,060 students are attending one of the best Iowa schools where Iowa State University has the largest population with 31,822 students and Central College has the smallest number of students (1,120 students). The average graduation rate is 72.20% and the average students to faculty ratio is 12.70:1 at those colleges.
The following table shows the academic information and key facts of the best Iowa colleges including acceptance rate, graduation rate, student population, and students to faculty ratio.
Table. Iowa Best Colleges Overview
RankName Acceptance RateSAT ScoreGraduation RatePopulationStudent-Faculty Ratio
1Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
19%1,44687%1,4939:1 (11.11 %)
2Drake University
Des Moines, IA
68%1,22578%4,77410:1 (10.00 %)
3Iowa State University
Ames, IA
88%1,16075%31,82219:1 (5.26 %)
4Luther College
Decorah, IA
64%1,15577%1,80211:1 (9.09 %)
5University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
84%1,21072%30,31816:1 (6.25 %)
6Simpson College
Indianola, IA
87%1,13571%1,26711:1 (9.09 %)
7University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
79%1,13064%9,50718:1 (5.56 %)
8Central College
Pella, IA
64%1,08368%1,12011:1 (9.09 %)
9Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA
80%1,18962%1,39411:1 (9.09 %)
10Wartburg College
Waverly, IA
72%1,08568%1,56311:1 (9.09 %)
Average70.50%1,18272.20%85,060 (Total)12.70:1 (7.87 %)

Best Iowa Colleges 2022 Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimated Costs

The following table lists 2021-2022 tuition & fees and compares them between the best Iowa colleges. The 2021-2022 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for the academic year 2022-2023 are calculated and estimated based on each school's rate of tuition change from 2021 to 2022.

For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of the best Iowa colleges is $38,803 where Grinnell College has the most expensive costs at $58,648 and Central College has the lowest amount of tuition at $19,250. The average graduate tuition & fees of the best Iowa colleges is $20,034 where University of Iowa has the highest tuition with $31,012 and Simpson College has the lowest amount of graduate school tuition with $6,606.
UndergraduateGraduate
Table. Best Iowa Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Grinnell College $58,648$60,684
2Drake University $45,912$47,501
3Iowa State University $9,634$25,446 $9,963 $26,424
4Luther College $46,760$47,939
5University of Iowa $9,942$31,905 $10,290 $32,245
6Simpson College $44,030$45,889
7University of Northern Iowa $9,053$19,753 $9,169 $18,386
8Central College $19,250$19,923
9Coe College $48,822$50,478
10Wartburg College $47,500$49,393
Average$9,543$38,803$9,807$39,886
Table. Best Iowa Colleges 2022 Graduate School Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Grinnell College --
2Drake University $11,988$12,044
3Iowa State University $11,404$26,948 $11,404$11,838
4Luther College --
5University of Iowa $12,065$31,012 $12,065$12,478
6Simpson College $6,606$4,921
7University of Northern Iowa $10,569$21,201 $10,569$10,708
8Central College --
9Coe College --
10Wartburg College $22,450$20,421
Average$11,346$20,034$11,674$20,008