Top Colleges in Iowa Tuition Comparison

Grinnell College ranked first in the Top Colleges in Iowa rankings, followed by Drake University and Simpson College.

The average tuition & fees of Top Colleges in Iowa is $11,035 for in-state and $37,419 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2024-2025.

Grinnell College has the highest tuition & fees of $68,196 and Maharishi International University has the lowest tuition & fees of $16,530 among Top Colleges in Iowa. For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees of the schools is $13,196 for in-state and $18,024 for out-of-state students.

The average acceptance rate is 72.83% and the SAT score is 1215 for the Top Colleges in Iowa. Their acceptance rate is relatively high, making it somewhat easy to get into the schools, and the SAT score is relatively low.

Table. Top Colleges in Iowa Tuition & Fees Comparison
RankSchool NameUndergraduate TuitionGraduate TuitionAcceptance RateSAT/ACT Scores Student PopulationGraduation Rate
1Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA$68,196
$3,334		-14.51%
1.83%		1,490 SAT
33 ACT0 /0		1,788
13		88%
1%
2Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA$51,960
$2,016		$12,825
$48		63.85%
-0.28%		1,300 SAT
27 ACT
20 /0		4,345
-159		74%
-3%
3Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA$47,656
$1,444		$9,204
$1,960		86.22%
-2.66%		-1,251
88		63%
-2%
4Luther CollegeDecorah, IA$52,120
$1,800		-71.54%
-1.73%		1,215 SAT
25 ACT
5 /-1		1,384
-79		71%
-4%
5Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA$28,881 ($10,787)
$1,198 ($290)		$30,577 ($12,967)
$1,274 ($516)		88.66%
-0.47%		1,250 SAT
24 ACT
10 /0		30,380
203		75%
6Wartburg CollegeWaverly, IA$26,250
$24,790		$12,000
$500		75.84%
-23.57%		1,030 SAT
23 ACT
-15 /0		1,483
11		64%
-2%
7William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA$29,750
$1,000		$10,50051.88%
-5.13%		990 SAT
18 ACT
40 /-1		1,425
-111		33%
4%
8Maharishi International UniversityFairfield, IA$16,530$16,530
$13,000		95.70%
-1.20%		-2,592
-74		50%
33%
9University of IowaIowa City, IA$33,371 ($11,283)
$444 ($319)		$32,372 ($13,425)
$2,510 ($214)		83.62%
-1.05%		1,230 SAT
24 ACT
10 /-1		30,779
737		75%
2%
10Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IA$19,475
$475		$20,185
$1,227		96.46%
3.08%		-3,941
839		34%
-7%
Average$37,419 ($11,035)$18,024 ($13,196)73%1,2157,93763%
Top Colleges in Iowa Tuition Comparison