Iowa Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

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.

Comparison between Tightest Iowa Colleges To Get In

Table. Tightest Iowa Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-		Grinnell College Grinnell, IAPrivate, 4-year 14.51%
1.83%		30.93%1,490$68,1961,78888.00%9 to 1
2
-		Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate, 4-year 63.85%
0.28%		9.80%1,300$51,9604,34574.00%11 to 1
3
2		Coe College Cedar Rapids, IAPrivate, 4-year 64.04%
6.63%		5.48%1,150$54,6661,19566.00%11 to 1
4
2		Dordt University Sioux Center, IAPrivate, 4-year 68.47%
2.69%		37.97%1,225$37,0501,95270.00%14 to 1
5
1		Morningside University Sioux City, IAPrivate, 4-year 71.04%
0.47%		15.81%-$39,5192,05650.00%12 to 1
6
3		Luther College Decorah, IAPrivate, 4-year 71.54%
1.73%		19.92%1,215$52,1201,38471.00%9 to 1
7
4		Clarke University Dubuque, IAPrivate, 4-year 71.83%
3.67%		5.54%1,060$40,91096256.00%9 to 1
8
15		Wartburg College Waverly, IAPrivate, 4-year 75.84%
23.57%		16.55%1,030$26,2501,48364.00%13 to 1
9
1		Waldorf University Forest City, IAPrivate, 4-year 76.98%
4.38%		19.83%-$25,9782,22521.00%22 to 1
10
-		Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IAPrivate, 4-year 77.33%
4.01%		16.71%1,050$36,6582,49861.00%11 to 1
Average65.54%17.85%1,190$43,3311,98962.10%12 to 1