The average acceptance rate for Iowa Colleges in the 2024-2025 academic year is 77.76%. This represents a 0.14% increase compared to the previous year's acceptance rate.
Analyzing acceptance rate trends over the past 5 years (2020-2025), Iowa Colleges has experienced a 4.74% increase in acceptance rates, moving from 73.02% to 77.76%. Among the 30 competitive 4-year colleges in Iowa Colleges, 18 schools have increased their acceptance rates while 12 schools have become more selective over this 5-year period.
The following analysis shows how acceptance rates have changed over the past 5 years for Iowa Colleges. Out of 30 schools with available data, 18 schools (60%) have seen an increase in their acceptance rates, while 12 schools (40%) experienced a decrease.
For comprehensive admission data including acceptance rates, number of applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for 2025, visit our Iowa Colleges admission statistics comparison table.
| School Name | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 5-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen CollegeWaterloo, IA | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Briar Cliff UniversitySioux City, IA | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IA | 55.68% | 65.98% 10.3% | 77.27% 11.29% | 71.76% 5.51% | 77.61% 5.85% | 21.93% |
| Central CollegePella, IA | 63.68% | 74.52% 10.85% | 79.24% 4.72% | 78.97% 0.27% | 86.17% 7.2% | 22.49% |
| Clarke UniversityDubuque, IA | 89.20% | 88.78% 0.42% | 84.80% 3.98% | 68.16% 16.65% | 71.83% 3.68% | 17.37% |
| Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | 79.86% | 72.66% 7.2% | - | 70.67% | 64.04% 6.63% | 15.82% |
| Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IA | 82.41% | 81.10% 1.31% | 79.33% 1.77% | 80.66% 1.33% | 79.90% 0.76% | 2.51% |
| Divine Word CollegeEpworth, IA | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dordt UniversitySioux Center, IA | 71.84% | 73.23% 1.39% | 87.67% 14.44% | 71.16% 16.51% | 68.47% 2.69% | 3.37% |
| Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA | 67.92% | 69.07% 1.15% | 67.23% 1.84% | 64.13% 3.11% | 63.85% 0.28% | 4.07% |
| University of DubuqueDubuque, IA | 78.63% | 76.43% 2.2% | 85.05% 8.62% | 86.92% 1.87% | 88.63% 1.7% | 9.99% |
| Emmaus Bible CollegeDubuque, IA | 92.11% | 99.06% 6.95% | 100.00% 0.94% | 97.70% 2.3% | 59.79% 37.91% | 32.31% |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, IA | 67.60% | 56.14% 11.46% | 52.45% 3.69% | 49.68% 2.77% | 67.52% 17.84% | 0.08% |
| Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA | 68.07% | 66.62% 1.45% | 74.49% 7.87% | 83.22% 8.73% | 80.83% 2.39% | 12.76% |
| Grand View UniversityDes Moines, IA | 97.02% | 99.55% 2.53% | 98.41% 1.14% | 98.38% 0.03% | 99.09% 0.71% | 2.07% |
| Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA | 19.25% | 10.54% 8.71% | 10.76% 0.22% | 12.68% 1.91% | 14.51% 1.84% | 4.73% |
| Orion Technical CollegeDavenport, IA | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA | 88.42% | 91.12% 2.7% | 90.22% 0.9% | 89.13% 1.09% | 88.66% 0.48% | 0.23% |
| University of IowaIowa City, IA | 84.28% | 86.21% 1.93% | 86.00% 0.2% | 84.67% 1.33% | 83.62% 1.05% | 0.66% |
| Loras CollegeDubuque, IA | 58.38% | 71.96% 13.58% | 89.84% 17.88% | 91.83% 1.99% | 99.86% 8.03% | 41.48% |
| Luther CollegeDecorah, IA | 64.29% | 76.07% 11.79% | 75.32% 0.75% | 73.27% 2.05% | 71.54% 1.73% | 7.26% |
| Maharishi International UniversityFairfield, IA | 100.00% | 94.83% 5.17% | 94.29% 0.54% | 96.90% 2.61% | 95.70% 1.2% | 4.3% |
| Mercy College of Health SciencesDes Moines, IA | 91.67% | 96.97% 5.3% | 96.71% 0.26% | 98.78% 2.07% | 99.71% 0.92% | 8.04% |
| Morningside UniversitySioux City, IA | 68.60% | 73.80% 5.21% | 70.61% 3.19% | 70.57% 0.03% | 71.04% 0.47% | 2.45% |
| Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids, IA | 76.21% | 80.99% 4.78% | 75.27% 5.72% | 78.76% 3.49% | 82.52% 3.76% | 6.31% |
| University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA | 78.88% | 85.79% 6.91% | 94.95% 9.16% | 94.40% 0.55% | 92.74% 1.66% | 13.86% |
| Northwestern CollegeOrange City, IA | 73.77% | 83.02% 9.25% | 87.33% 4.31% | 87.01% 0.32% | 80.36% 6.65% | 6.59% |
| Palmer College of ChiropracticDavenport, IA | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport, IA | 73.84% | 72.41% 1.43% | 73.92% 1.51% | 73.32% 0.6% | 77.33% 4.01% | 3.48% |
| St Luke's CollegeSioux City, IA | 59.26% | 100.00% 40.74% | 80.00% 20% | 44.44% 35.56% | 80.00% 35.56% | 20.74% |
| Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA | 86.62% | 90.83% 4.21% | 89.10% 1.73% | 88.88% 0.22% | 86.22% 2.67% | 0.4% |
| Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IA | 65.30% | 64.92% 0.38% | 54.23% 10.68% | 93.38% 39.15% | 96.46% 3.08% | 31.16% |
| Waldorf UniversityForest City, IA | 61.06% | 72.29% 11.23% | 73.86% 1.58% | 72.60% 1.26% | 76.98% 4.37% | 15.92% |
| Wartburg CollegeWaverly, IA | 71.72% | 82.75% 11.03% | 97.45% 14.69% | 99.41% 1.97% | 75.84% 23.57% | 4.11% |
| William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA | 55.03% | 57.68% 2.64% | 57.67% | 57.01% 0.66% | 51.88% 5.14% | 3.16% |
| Average | 73.02% | 77.18% 4.16% | 78.74% 1.56% | 77.62% 1.12% | 77.76% 0.14% | 4.74% |