Out of the 65 total colleges in Iowa, which college is the highest rated in overall quality? The answer might surprise you. According to Douglas MA there are 19 public schools, 35 nonprofit private schools, and 11 for-profit private schools throughout the state. The factors that went into this study were graduation rate, earnings after graduation, and the school's average expenditure per student. Do you recognize this part of the school's campus?

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

If you're a student, an alumni member, or live in the area, you might recognize this as part of the Grinnell College Campus. According to College Factual, Grinnell College is the number 1 college in Iowa, for overall quality. This is a private not-for-profit school located in Grinnell Iowa which has a student-faculty rate of 9 to 1. In 2019-2020, Grinnell awarded 516 bachelor's degrees and has a fairly small school population.

They have a 79%, 4-year graduation rate. Students who graduate can expect to earn close to $50,000 a year, early on in their careers, and the student loan default rate comes in at 2.6%.

You would assume the University of Iowa would also be somewhere close to the top and it is! Sort of... College Factual places Iowa State University at number 2. They have a 41% 4-year graduation rate. Students can expect to earn close to $51,000 out of school and they have a 3.3% student loan default rate.

Drake University comes in at number 3 with a 65% 4-year graduation rate. Students can expect to make $58,000 early in their professional careers and they have a 2.2% student loan default rate.

Our beloved Hawkeyes show up at number 4. The University of Iowa has a 51% graduation rate. Students can expect to earn close to $52,000 early after graduation and they have a 3.5% student loan default rate.

At number 5, we have the University of Northern Iowa. Let's go Panthers! They have a 38% graduation rate. Students can expect to earn about $45,000 early in their professional careers and they have a 3.6% student loan default rate.

As someone who graduated from Brown College in their radio broadcasting department, I'd say you're in pretty good shape if you can finish with a degree from any of these 5 schools.

Here is a list of the top 10 highest-rated colleges in Iowa going into 2022.

Have You Seen All of these License Plates in Iowa?

Here are 25 different license plates you can see throughout Iowa.

What Non-Iowans Think of Iowa

Iowa is the capital of the Midwest! Ok, that's unofficial, but it's my stance. Here's what NON Iowans think of us.

 

More From Q98.5