Lens covers 8 four-year colleges in Iowa, 3 public and 5 private. They range from Clarke University (742 undergraduates) to Iowa State University (25,367). Acceptance rates run from 15% to 93%, and 7 of the 8 admit at least half of applicants.
Open these 8 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 8 four-year colleges in Iowa
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke University | Dubuque | 742 | 72% | $40,910 |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids | 1,164 | 64% | $54,666 |
| Drake University | Des Moines | 2,543 | 64% | $52,130 |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell | 1,729 | 15% | $68,106 |
| Iowa State University | Ames | 25,367 | 89% | $10,787 in-state · $28,881 out-of-state |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City | 22,264 | 84% | $11,283 in-state · $33,371 out-of-state |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | 7,529 | 93% | $9,936 in-state · $21,712 out-of-state |
| Wartburg College | Waverly | 1,452 | 76% | $26,250 |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Colleges in Illinois
- Colleges in Indiana
- Colleges in Michigan
- Colleges in Minnesota
- Colleges in Missouri
- Colleges in Ohio
- Colleges in Wisconsin
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest
- Large Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the Midwest
- Catholic Colleges in the Midwest
- Christian Colleges in the Midwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Midwest
- Division I Colleges in the Midwest
FAQ
Which four-year colleges in Iowa admit at least half of applicants? 7 of the 8: Clarke University, Coe College, Drake University, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Wartburg College (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest four-year colleges in Iowa? Iowa State University is the largest, with 25,367 undergraduates, and Clarke University is the smallest, with 742 (fall 2024).
How many four-year colleges in Iowa are public? 3 of the 8 are public and 5 are private.
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.