Notable Four-Year Colleges and Universities in Iowa

This directory-style guide highlights 25 four-year colleges and universities in Iowa. Each institution is identified by its full profile name and location so similarly named organizations are easier to distinguish. “Notable” is a directory label, not an evaluation of quality or an endorsement.

Entries were selected and ordered using enrollment values available in COSMIQ profiles. Enrollment figures are intentionally omitted. The order is an estimate of institution size, not a ranking of academic quality, outcomes, or fit.

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Institutions in this guide

University of Iowa — Iowa City, Iowa. Public four-year institution.
Iowa State University — Ames, Iowa. Public four-year institution.
University of Northern Iowa — Cedar Falls, Iowa. Public four-year institution.
Drake University — Des Moines, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Upper Iowa University — Fayette, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Saint Ambrose University — Davenport, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Maharishi International University — Fairfield, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Morningside University — Sioux City, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Palmer College of Chiropractic — Davenport, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Buena Vista University — Storm Lake, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Dordt University — Sioux Center, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Grand View University — Des Moines, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
University of Dubuque — Dubuque, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Grinnell College — Grinnell, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Northwestern College — Orange City, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Luther College — Decorah, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center — Des Moines, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Mount Mercy University — Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
William Penn University — Oskaloosa, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Wartburg College — Waverly, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Loras College — Dubuque, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Coe College — Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Graceland University-Lamoni — Lamoni, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Central College — Pella, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.
Simpson College — Indianola, Iowa. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

Selection and source notes

Where enough eligible profiles were available, this guide includes the top 50, 25, or 10 by available enrollment; smaller groups include all eligible profiles. Profile source year: 2022. Check each institution directly for current information.

Sources: NCES IPEDS. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by COSMIQ, and it does not mean that any listed institution endorses COSMIQ.