Best Research Universities in Iowa 2024
Interested in attending a STEM school in Iowa? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.
Best Research Universities in Iowa 2024
- Iowa State University 18 to 1
- University of Iowa 16 to 1
- Drake University 10 to 1
- Clarke University 9 to 1
- Drake University $47,742
- Clarke University $38,060
- University of Iowa $8,711
- Iowa State University $8,678
- Clarke University $12,868
- Drake University $11,878
- University of Iowa $10,875
- Iowa State University $10,572
- Clarke University 9 to 1
- Drake University 10 to 1
- University of Iowa 16 to 1
- Iowa State University 18 to 1
- Iowa State University $8,678
- University of Iowa $8,711
- Clarke University $38,060
- Drake University $47,742
- Iowa State University $10,572
- University of Iowa $10,875
- Drake University $11,878
- Clarke University $12,868
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
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 4 research universities in Iowa. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
Best Research Universities in Iowa 2023
- #2 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #14 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools Iowa 2024
Other Rankings
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #1 Best Public Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #1 Best Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Iowa
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Sports Management Degree Programs for 2024
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #1 Best Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree Programs for 2024
- #2 The Best Online Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024
- #2 Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2024
- #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #5 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
- #5 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
- #9 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees Ranked for 2024
- #9 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Economics PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
- #10 Most Affordable Online Sociology Doctorate Programs (PhDs)
- #11 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
- #8 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
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: $10,353Expenses: $16,530Starting Salary: $62,000Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat 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
- #2 Best Grad Schools Iowa 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Iowa 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Iowa 2024
Other Rankings
- #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
- #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Information Technology
- #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Iowa
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #6 Best Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree Programs for 2024
- #13 Best Online Doctorate in Education Degree Programs Ranked for Students
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: $10,133Expenses: $13,339Starting Salary: $56,000Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Iowa State University known for?
Iowa State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Earth Sciences
- Education
- History
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
- #2 Best Small Colleges in Iowa 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools Iowa 2024 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Other Rankings
- #4 Best Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Iowa 2024
- #3 Best Online MBA Programs in Iowa
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Iowa 2024
- #9 Best Online MBA in Business Analytics Ranked for Students in 2024
- #14 Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2024
- #18 Best Online Master’s in Communications
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
76%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1225/27
Career Outlook for degree at Drake University
Cost of Degree: $47,742Expenses: $15,820Starting Salary: $68,700Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Drake University known for?
Drake University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Drake University’s Online Degrees
BA in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #5 Best Online Colleges in Iowa 2024 #11 Best Online Master's Programs in Iowa 2024
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
58%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/20
Career Outlook for degree at Clarke University
Cost of Degree: $38,060Expenses: $15,572Starting Salary: $44,800Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Clarke University known for?
Clarke University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Literature
- Communications
- Philosophy
- Mathematics
- Social Work
- History
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Religious Studies
Most Influential Alumni
Clarke University’s Online Degrees
BS in Nursing
- Required Credits: 31
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Find the Best Research Universities in Iowa for Your Area of Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.
Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.