Colleges by state
Colleges and Universities in Iowa
54 degree-granting colleges and universities in Iowa that take part in federal student aid programs, from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Colleges54
- Public1935 private
- Four-year3717 two-year
- Online programs46Report at least one fully online program
Widely offered majors in Iowa: Business Administration (41), Psychology (41), Elementary Education (39), Biology (39), Accounting (38), Nursing (35).
| College | City | Type | Level | Online programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College | Waterloo | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Central College | Pella | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center | West Des Moines | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Divine Word College | Epworth | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Drake University | Des Moines | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Emmaus Bible College | Dubuque | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary | Ankeny | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | Lamoni | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Grand View University | Des Moines | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Iowa State University | Ames | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Loras College | Dubuque | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Luther College | Decorah | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Maharishi International University | Fairfield | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Northwestern College | Orange City | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Orion Technical College | Davenport | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic | Davenport | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Ross College-Davenport | Davenport | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Simpson College | Indianola | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| St Luke's College | Sioux City | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Waldorf University | Forest City | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Wartburg College | Waverly | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary | Dubuque | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), IPEDS 2024-25 institutional characteristics (HD2024, IC2024). Links go to each school’s official website as reported to IPEDS. “Online programs” means the school reported at least one program offered entirely by distance education.
Colleges in Iowa: frequently asked questions
How many colleges are in Iowa?
Iowa has 54 degree-granting colleges and universities that take part in federal student aid programs, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) data.
How many public colleges are in Iowa?
19 public, 32 private nonprofit and 3 private for-profit.
How many community colleges and two-year colleges are in Iowa?
17 two-year colleges, including public two-year colleges such as Des Moines Area Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College District, Ellsworth Community College, Hawkeye Community College, Indian Hills Community College, and Iowa Central Community College.
How many four-year colleges and universities are in Iowa?
37 four-year colleges and universities, and 29 schools in Iowa offer graduate programs.
Which colleges in Iowa offer online programs?
46 colleges in Iowa reported offering at least one program entirely online. Use the college search with “Offers fully online programs” to see them, and check each school for specific online programs.
Which cities in Iowa have the most colleges?
Dubuque (5), Davenport (5), Sioux City (4), Cedar Rapids (3), and Des Moines (3).
What majors are most widely offered at colleges in Iowa?
Among the 109 majors in this guide, the most widely offered in Iowa are Business Administration (41 schools), Psychology (41 schools), Elementary Education (39 schools), Biology (39 schools), Accounting (38 schools), and Nursing (35 schools).
How do I find a college in Iowa that offers my major?
Use the college search with the state set to Iowa and choose your major, or filter by city or ZIP code.
Where does this list of Iowa colleges come from?
From the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS data (IPEDS 2024-25 institutional characteristics (HD2024, IC2024)). Confirm programs, costs and admission requirements on each school’s official website.
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