Best Public Colleges in Iowa 2024

Badge for BEST IN IOWA PUBLIC COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Iowa provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

Best Public Colleges in Iowa

Sort by:
  1. University of Iowa
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Northern Iowa
  1. University of Iowa
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Northern Iowa
  1. University of Northern Iowa 95%
  2. Iowa State University 90%
  3. University of Iowa 86%
  1. Iowa State University 18 to 1
  2. University of Northern Iowa 17 to 1
  3. University of Iowa 16 to 1
  1. University of Iowa $8,711
  2. Iowa State University $8,678
  3. University of Northern Iowa $8,111
  1. University of Iowa $10,875
  2. Iowa State University $10,572
  3. University of Northern Iowa $9,691
  1. University of Northern Iowa
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Iowa
  1. University of Northern Iowa
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Iowa
  1. University of Iowa 86%
  2. Iowa State University 90%
  3. University of Northern Iowa 95%
  1. University of Iowa 16 to 1
  2. University of Northern Iowa 17 to 1
  3. Iowa State University 18 to 1
  1. University of Northern Iowa $8,111
  2. Iowa State University $8,678
  3. University of Iowa $8,711
  1. University of Northern Iowa $9,691
  2. Iowa State University $10,572
  3. University of Iowa $10,875

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?

Iowa’s Best Overall

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

Iowa's Best Public Colleges Badge
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This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 3 public universities in Iowa. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Iowa, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

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Best Public Colleges in Iowa 2023

  1. #1

    University of Iowa

    Iowa City , IA
    #2 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #19 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #19 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1235/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Iowa

    Cost of Degree: $10,964
    Expenses: $17,632
    Starting Salary: $62,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Iowa known for?

    University of Iowa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of Iowa’s Online Degrees

    BA in Applied Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Creative Writing
    • Human Relations
    • Justice Studies
    • Political Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Enterprise Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120-136
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Expression in Writing and Arts
    • Global Studies
    • Family
    • Community
    • and Social Support
    • Health and Human Studies
    • Justice and Ethics
    • Organizational Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 32
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Radiation Sciences
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Social Work
    • Required Credits: 121-132
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  2. #2

    Iowa State University

    Ames , IA
    #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in Iowa 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Iowa 2024 #2 Best Research Universities in Iowa 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1220/24

    Career Outlook for degree at Iowa State University

    Cost of Degree: $10,497
    Expenses: $13,707
    Starting Salary: $56,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Iowa State University known for?

    Iowa State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Iowa State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Early childcare education and programming
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  3. #3

    University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls , IA
    #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa 2025 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Iowa 2025 #5 Best Colleges in Iowa 2024 #2 Best Online Master's Programs in Iowa 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    95%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    11K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1175/23

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Northern Iowa

    Cost of Degree: $9,728
    Expenses: $12,998
    Starting Salary: $49,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Northern Iowa known for?

    University of Northern Iowa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    University of Northern Iowa’s Online Degrees

    BAS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Elementary Education
    • Required Credits: 48-53
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
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Iowa’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology
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.

  1. University of Iowa
  2. Iowa State University
  3. University of Northern Iowa

Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.

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