The average acceptance rate of the 23 Iowa colleges that have competitive admission is 77.73% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 0.54%. The acceptance rate at 11 Iowa colleges increased and the rate of 12 colleges decreased.
Grinnell College has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 14.51%. Drake University (63.85%) and Coe College (64.04%) are following it in the list of Tightest Iowa Colleges to Get In.
This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.
Grinnell College stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Drake University also maintained its second place in the ranking.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $43,331 and graduate tuition & fees is $11,731 for the academic year 2024-2025.
We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Yield | SAT Score | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Total Population | Graduation Rate | Students to Faculty Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - | Grinnell College Grinnell, IAPrivate, 4-year | 14.51% 1.83% | 30.93% | 1,490 | $68,196 | 1,788 | 88.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 2 - | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate, 4-year | 63.85% 0.28% | 9.80% | 1,300 | $51,960 | 4,345 | 74.00% | 11 to 1 |
| 3 2 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IAPrivate, 4-year | 64.04% 6.63% | 5.48% | 1,150 | $54,666 | 1,195 | 66.00% | 11 to 1 |
| 4 2 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IAPrivate, 4-year | 68.47% 2.69% | 37.97% | 1,225 | $37,050 | 1,952 | 70.00% | 14 to 1 |
| 5 1 | Morningside University Sioux City, IAPrivate, 4-year | 71.04% 0.47% | 15.81% | - | $39,519 | 2,056 | 50.00% | 12 to 1 |
| 6 3 | Luther College Decorah, IAPrivate, 4-year | 71.54% 1.73% | 19.92% | 1,215 | $52,120 | 1,384 | 71.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 7 4 | Clarke University Dubuque, IAPrivate, 4-year | 71.83% 3.67% | 5.54% | 1,060 | $40,910 | 962 | 56.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 8 15 | Wartburg College Waverly, IAPrivate, 4-year | 75.84% 23.57% | 16.55% | 1,030 | $26,250 | 1,483 | 64.00% | 13 to 1 |
| 9 1 | Waldorf University Forest City, IAPrivate, 4-year | 76.98% 4.38% | 19.83% | - | $25,978 | 2,225 | 21.00% | 22 to 1 |
| 10 - | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IAPrivate, 4-year | 77.33% 4.01% | 16.71% | 1,050 | $36,658 | 2,498 | 61.00% | 11 to 1 |
| Average | 65.54% | 17.85% | 1,190 | $43,331 | 1,989 | 62.10% | 12 to 1 |