Best Community Colleges in Iowa 2024
The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Iowa offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
10 Best Community Colleges in Iowa
- Indian Hills Community College
- Kirkwood Community College
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- Hawkeye Community College
- Ellsworth Community College
- Iowa Western Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Kirkwood Community College
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Ellsworth Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Indian Hills Community College
- Iowa Western Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- Hawkeye Community College
- North Iowa Area Community College 21 to 1
- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 20 to 1
- Iowa Western Community College 19 to 1
- Des Moines Area Community College 19 to 1
- Kirkwood Community College 19 to 1
- Iowa Central Community College 19 to 1
- Southwestern Community College 17 to 1
- Marshalltown Community College 17 to 1
- Ellsworth Community College 15 to 1
- Northeast Iowa Community College 15 to 1
- Iowa Western Community College $6,030
- Southeastern Community College $6,000
- Southwestern Community College $5,940
- Hawkeye Community College $5,916
- Northwest Iowa Community College $5,820
- Kirkwood Community College $5,600
- Northeast Iowa Community College $5,550
- North Iowa Area Community College $5,378
- Des Moines Area Community College $5,340
- Indian Hills Community College $4,680
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
- Marshalltown Community College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- North Iowa Area Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Iowa Western Community College
- Ellsworth Community College
- Hawkeye Community College
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Marshalltown Community College
- North Iowa Area Community College
- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
- Southwestern Community College
- Hawkeye Community College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- Iowa Western Community College
- Indian Hills Community College
- Southeastern Community College 12 to 1
- Western Iowa Tech Community College 13 to 1
- Ellsworth Community College 15 to 1
- Northeast Iowa Community College 15 to 1
- Northwest Iowa Community College 15 to 1
- Indian Hills Community College 15 to 1
- Hawkeye Community College 15 to 1
- Southwestern Community College 17 to 1
- Marshalltown Community College 17 to 1
- Iowa Western Community College 19 to 1
- Western Iowa Tech Community College $4,032
- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges $4,488
- Ellsworth Community College $4,560
- Marshalltown Community College $4,560
- Iowa Central Community College $4,620
- Indian Hills Community College $4,680
- Des Moines Area Community College $5,340
- North Iowa Area Community College $5,378
- Northeast Iowa Community College $5,550
- Kirkwood Community College $5,600
Colleges and Universities in Iowa
With a large number of both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Iowa, students have plenty of great schools to choose from.
Iowa’s largest public university, Iowa State University, serves over 30,000 students and offers extra flexibility for both undergraduate and graduate students through a selection of online degree programs in more than 50 academic fields including business administration, psychology, computer science, and more.
The University of Iowa-home of the Hawkeyes-is also home to some of the nation’s top programs in literature, philosophy, and law. The University of Iowa has also been at the forefront of higher education, starting the nation’s first co-educational medical school, as well as being the first public school to grant a law degree to a woman, Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, in 1873.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
For prospective students hoping to obtain their degrees at a smaller school, Iowa offers over 40 options to choose from. For a more affordable option, students can pay $4,000 per year for tuition at Indian Hills Community College. Like most community colleges in Georgia, Indian Hills also offers an array of online programs.
At the other end of the spectrum, students will pay up to $52,000 for an academic year at Grinnell College. Furthermore, nearly half of the schools in Iowa are religiously affiliated.
Iowa is often recognized for its agriculture as it produces the most pork and corn in the nation. Equally noteworthy is Iowa’s wealth of one-of-a-kind roadside attractions. From the largest wooden nickel, to the crookedest street, to the Grotto of Redemption, The Hawkeye State is full of wonders. Students in search of curiosities and oddities while earning a degree can attend one of Iowa’s public or private colleges.
Whether you’re looking to earn your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Iowa offers a wealth of on-campus and online learning options. Discover more about Iowa’s top brick-and-mortar and online programs as well as top career paths in the state of Iowa.
What are Iowa’s Colleges & Universities?
- 5 Research Universities
- 23 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 6 Graduate Schools
- 4 Public Colleges & Universities
- 24 Private Colleges & Universities
- 19 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 24 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 4 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 15 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
Iowa’s Best Overall
We’ve identified 15 community colleges in Iowa. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Iowa.
If you’re interested in an online associate degree, visit our best online associate degrees in Iowa page.
Best Community Colleges in Iowa
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
36%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Indian Hills Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,872Expenses: $14,688Starting Salary: $34,800Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Indian Hills Community College known for?
Indian Hills Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
36%
Student body
17K
Career Outlook for degree at Kirkwood Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,980Starting Salary: $38,000What is Kirkwood Community College known for?
Kirkwood Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Iowa 2024 #20 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #23 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
34%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for degree at Des Moines Area Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,550Expenses: $11,358Starting Salary: $36,800Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Des Moines Area Community College known for?
Des Moines Area Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Physics
- Sociology
- Social Work
- Biology
- History
- Political Science
- Medical
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
37%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Iowa Central Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,376Expenses: $12,499Starting Salary: $38,400Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Iowa Central Community College known for?
Iowa Central Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Social Work
- Criminal Justice
- History
- Sociology
- Communications
- Medical
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
49%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Northeast Iowa Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,600Starting Salary: $36,000What is Northeast Iowa Community College known for?
Northeast Iowa Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
33%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Hawkeye Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,308Starting Salary: $38,400What is Hawkeye Community College known for?
Hawkeye Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
29%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Ellsworth Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,304Expenses: $15,500Starting Salary: $35,500Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Ellsworth Community College known for?
Ellsworth Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
36%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at Iowa Western Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,780Expenses: $15,110Starting Salary: $35,500Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Iowa Western Community College known for?
Iowa Western Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
39%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Southeastern Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,450Expenses: $17,556Starting Salary: $31,800Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Southeastern Community College known for?
Southeastern Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Southwestern Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,510Expenses: $11,048Starting Salary: $34,100Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Southwestern Community College known for?
Southwestern Community College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
55%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at North Iowa Area Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,436Expenses: $11,370Starting Salary: $37,700Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is North Iowa Area Community College known for?
North Iowa Area Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #4 Best Online Associate in Game Development #7 Best Online Associate in Agribusiness Degree Programs 2025 #11 Best Online Associate Degrees in Iowa 2024 #25 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
42%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,042Expenses: $12,426Starting Salary: $34,200Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Western Iowa Tech Community College known for?
Western Iowa Tech Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Marshalltown Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,304Expenses: $13,400Starting Salary: $32,800Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Marshalltown Community College known for?
Marshalltown Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
39%
Student body
12K
Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Cost of Degree: $4,680Expenses: $17,534Starting Salary: $33,600Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Eastern Iowa Community Colleges known for?
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
64%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Northwest Iowa Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,110Expenses: $15,608Starting Salary: $48,000Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Northwest Iowa Community College known for?
Northwest Iowa Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
- Indian Hills Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- Kirkwood Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Ellsworth Community College
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- Hawkeye Community College
- Marshalltown Community College
- North Iowa Area Community College
- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Iowa Western Community College