For the 2025 Iowa college admission cycle, a total of 2,300 enrolled students submitted SAT scores and 7,556 students submitted ACT scores to Iowa colleges.
The average SAT score for Iowa colleges is 1,166 and the average ACT composite score is 24. Compared to the previous year, the Iowa's average SAT score increased by 25 points from 1,141 to 1,166, representing a 2.2% change. The average ACT score increased by 1 points, from 23 to 24.
The average acceptance rate for Iowa colleges with available SAT data is 73.58% with a yield rate of 22.02%. This represents a 2.29 percentage point decrease in selectivity compared to the previous admission cycle.
Among Iowa colleges, Grinnell College has the highest SAT score of 1,490.
The following table compares the SAT scores between four-years colleges in Iowa. Those colleges have admission requirements and criteria to admit (not open admission). The green or red arrows with numbers indicate change from the previous year for each column.
| School | SAT Score | ACT Score | Acceptance Rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell College | 1,490 | 33 | 14.51% 1.83% | 30.93% -5.17% |
| Drake University | 1,300 20 | 27 | 63.85% -0.28% | 9.80% -3.07% |
| Iowa State University | 1,250 10 | 24 | 88.66% -0.47% | 28.84% 0.25% |
| University of Iowa | 1,230 10 | 24 -1 | 83.62% -1.05% | 22.43% -0.86% |
| Dordt University | 1,225 95 | 25 1 | 68.47% -2.69% | 37.97% -2.65% |
| Luther College | 1,215 5 | 25 -1 | 71.54% -1.73% | 19.92% 0.29% |
| Cornell College | 1,200 -35 | 26 | 79.90% -0.76% | 14.29% 2.32% |
| Emmaus Bible College | 1,200 160 | 23 1 | 59.79% -37.91% | 63.79% 2.61% |
| University of Northern Iowa | 1,170 40 | 22 | 92.74% -1.66% | 31.10% -2.36% |
| Coe College | 1,150 -20 | 26 1 | 64.04% -6.63% | 5.48% -1.60% |
| Central College | 1,100 20 | 23 1 | 86.17% 7.20% | 21.02% 3.48% |
| University of Dubuque | 1,090 30 | 22 -1 | 88.63% 1.71% | 23.31% -0.66% |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary | 1,070 -10 | 22 1 | 67.52% 17.84% | 68.65% -11.09% |
| Clarke University | 1,060 80 | 20 -2 | 71.83% 3.67% | 5.54% -3.92% |
| Saint Ambrose University | 1,050 | 23 | 77.33% 4.01% | 16.71% 0.06% |
| Wartburg College | 1,030 -15 | 23 | 75.84% -23.57% | 16.55% -0.22% |
| William Penn University | 990 40 | 18 -1 | 51.88% -5.13% | 41.95% -4.74% |