Colleges in Iowa

There are fewer schools than is typical in this state, but students should remember quality is more important than quantity. Students who are able to take advantage of in-state tuition will only pay an average of $16,462 to get their degree at a public Iowa college, while out of state students will pay an average of $18,911.

An estimated 64% of college students in Iowa take out loans, with the average loan amount being $6,641.

The list below includes some of the biggest schools in the state ranked in order of popularity:

There are 28,743 full-time undergraduates at Iowa State, and 36,158 students altogether. Students tend to stick around at Iowa State. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

89% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 53% are men and 47% are women.

Approximately 50% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The typical loan amount is $7,208. The school reports a student loan default rate of 3.4% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor-degree holder from this school earns $50,700.

There are approximately 33,287 students at Kaplan University - Davenport Campus in total, 3,127 of which are full-time undergraduates.

Roughly, 40% of students at Kaplan University - Davenport Campus take out loans to pay for college. Most of these students take out loans totaling $3,417. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 13.7% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

Students who graduate for Kaplan University - Davenport Campus with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $33,900 after graduation.

The total student population at University of Iowa is 32,166, of which 21,222 students are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average Iowa undergraduate about 4.3 years to complete their degree.

86% of students who apply get accepted. Around 46% of accepted students are men, and 54% are women.

48% of Iowa students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of these loans is $7,174. The school reports a student loan default rate of 2.6% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

The typical graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Iowa earns $51,900.

There are 6,476 full-time undergraduates at DMACC, and 22,982 students altogether.

Approximately 45% of the students who attend this school take out loans. Most of these students take out loans totaling $4,522. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 17.1% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

$34,300 is the average amount a bachelor-degree holder from DMACC earns.

There are approximately 11,861 students at UNI in total, 9,100 of which are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average UNI undergraduate about 4.4 years to complete their degree.

81% of students who apply get accepted. Around 41% of accepted students are men, and 59% are women.

Roughly, 57% of students at UNI take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of these loans is $6,050. The student loan default rate of 3.9% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The average earnings of bachelor-degree holders from UNI is $44,600.

The total student population at Kirkwood Community College is 14,049, of which 5,510 students are full-time undergraduates.

50% of Kirkwood Community College students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical loan amount is $4,854. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 14% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

$35,800 is the average amount a bachelor-degree holder from Kirkwood Community College earns.

There are approximately 5,731 students at Western Iowa Tech Community College in total, 1,898 of which are full-time undergraduates.

Approximately 73% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of these loans is $4,820. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 18.5% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor-degree holder from this school earns $31,500.

The total student population at Drake University is 4,904, of which 2,955 students are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average Drake undergraduate about 4.1 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 69%. Of the accepted students, 41% are men and 59% are women.

Roughly, 56% of students at Drake take out loans to pay for college. The typical loan amount is $8,089. Drake has a 1.8% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

The average earnings of bachelor-degree holders from Drake is $58,300.

There are 2,107 full-time undergraduates at UIU, and 4,943 students altogether. It takes the average UIU undergraduate about 4.4 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 56%. Of the accepted students, 57% are men and 43% are women.

76% of UIU students take out loans to afford college costs. Most of these students take out loans totaling $6,705. This school’s student loan default rate of 9.1% is close to the national average.

The typical graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UIU earns $42,900.

The total student population at Eastern Iowa Community College District is 7,666, of which 2,421 students are full-time undergraduates.

34% of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical loan amount is $5,194. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 17.1% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

Students who graduate for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $29,400 after graduation.

There are 2,656 full-time undergraduates at Iowa Western Community College, and 6,080 students altogether.

Roughly, 73% of students at Iowa Western Community College take out loans to pay for college. Most of these students take out loans totaling $5,434. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 19% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor-degree holder from this school earns $33,100.

There are approximately 5,605 students at Hawkeye Community College in total, 2,525 of which are full-time undergraduates.

Approximately 56% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of these loans is $5,065. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 14.4% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

The typical graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Hawkeye Community College earns $36,100.

The total student population at Iowa Central Community College is 5,788, of which 2,842 students are full-time undergraduates.

64% of Iowa Central Community College students take out loans to afford college costs. The average amount of these loans is $5,229. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 22.1% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

$36,500 is the average amount a bachelor-degree holder from Iowa Central Community College earns.

There are 2,215 full-time undergraduates at St. Ambrose University, and 3,114 students altogether. Students tend to stick around at St. Ambrose University. The freshman retention rate is 78%.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 61%. Around 41% of accepted students are men, and 59% are women.

Roughly, 74% of students at St. Ambrose University take out loans to pay for college. The typical loan amount is $9,164. St. Ambrose University has a 4.3% student default rate. This is excellent when you compare it to the national rate of 10.8%.

The average earnings of bachelor-degree holders from St. Ambrose University is $47,300.

There are approximately 4,090 students at IHCC in total, 2,147 of which are full-time undergraduates.

Approximately 55% of the students who attend this school take out loans. Most of these students take out loans totaling $5,123. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 18.8% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

Students who graduate for IHCC with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $32,100 after graduation.

There are approximately 2,947 students at North Iowa Area Community College in total, 1,346 of which are full-time undergraduates.

45% of North Iowa Area Community College students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical loan amount is $4,551. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 16% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

The average earnings of bachelor-degree holders from North Iowa Area Community College is $33,900.

The total student population at Waldorf University is 2,487, of which 1,482 students are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average Waldorf undergraduate about 4.7 years to complete their degree.

About 72% of students who apply get accepted. Around 63% of accepted students are men, and 37% are women.

Approximately 74% of the students who attend this school take out loans. Most of these students take out loans totaling $5,903. The student loan default rate of 9.7% is very similar to the national average.

The typical graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Waldorf earns $37,800.

There are 1,522 full-time undergraduates at BVU, and 1,982 students altogether. It takes the average BVU undergraduate about 4.2 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 64%. Of the accepted students, 60% are men and 40% are women.

Roughly, 81% of students at BVU take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of these loans is $7,913. The school reports a student loan default rate of 7.7% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

Students who graduate for BVU with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $40,000 after graduation.

The total student population at Northeast Iowa Community College is 4,536, of which 1,217 students are full-time undergraduates.

51% of NICC students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical loan amount is $5,310. Students should know that the student default rate at this school is 14% which is higher than the national average of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor-degree holder from this school earns $33,700.

There are 39 full-time undergraduates at Palmer College of Chiropractic - Davenport, and 2,237 students altogether. The school has an admirable student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1.

Roughly, 100% of students at Palmer College of Chiropractic - Davenport take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of these loans is $5,500. The student loan default rate of 1.9% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

$41,200 is the average amount a bachelor-degree holder from Palmer College of Chiropractic - Davenport earns.

There are approximately 2,262 students at Graceland Lamoni in total, 1,061 of which are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average Graceland Lamoni undergraduate about 4.5 years to complete their degree.

About 56% of students who apply get accepted. Of the accepted students, 47% are men and 53% are women.

Approximately 84% of the students who attend this school take out loans. Most of these students take out loans totaling $7,252. This school’s student loan default rate of 9.6% is close to the national average.

Students who graduate for Graceland Lamoni with a bachelor’s degree make an average of $36,200 after graduation.

There are approximately 2,788 students at Morningside in total, 1,252 of which are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average Morningside undergraduate about 4.3 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 55%. Around 43% of accepted students are men, and 57% are women.

Approximately 75% of the students who attend this school take out loans. Most of these students take out loans totaling $8,724. The school reports a student loan default rate of 4.6% which is much lower than the average rate of 10.8%!

A typical bachelor-degree holder from this school earns $43,700.

The total student population at University of Dubuque is 2,366, of which 1,709 students are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average UD Iowa undergraduate about 4.2 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 74%. Of the accepted students, 61% are men and 39% are women.

82% of UD Iowa students take out loans to afford college costs. The typical loan amount is $13,771. The student loan default rate of 9.3% is very similar to the national average.

The typical graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UD Iowa earns $39,200.

There are 1,083 full-time undergraduates at Mount Mercy, and 1,848 students altogether. It takes the average Mount Mercy undergraduate about 4.3 years to complete their degree.

The school doesn’t accept everyone: It has an acceptance rate of 57%. Around 29% of accepted students are men, and 71% are women.

Roughly, 84% of students at Mount Mercy take out loans to pay for college. The average amount of these loans is $10,322. The student loan default rate of 3.5% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

The average earnings of bachelor-degree holders from Mount Mercy is $45,300.

The total student population at Luther College is 2,053, of which 2,014 students are full-time undergraduates. It takes the average Luther undergraduate about 4.1 years to complete their degree.

About 65% of students who apply get accepted. Around 43% of accepted students are men, and 57% are women.

Approximately 67% of the students who attend this school take out loans. The average amount of these loans is $8,720. The student loan default rate of 1.8% means most graduates are not struggling to pay off their loans.

$47,400 is the average amount a bachelor-degree holder from Luther earns.