Ranking

Most Selective Colleges in Iowa by Acceptance Rate 2026

The hardest Iowa colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $14,956
Top earnings 10y: $71,901
Public / Private: 3 / 22

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 14.5%
Net price: $17,648
Earnings 10y: $62,830
Acceptance: 14.5%

William Penn University

Oskaloosa, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 51.9%
Net price: $22,601
Earnings 10y: $48,936
Acceptance: 51.9%

Drake University

Des Moines, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 63.9%
Net price: $29,127
Earnings 10y: $71,901
Acceptance: 63.9%

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 64%
Net price: $18,745
Earnings 10y: $57,125
Acceptance: 64%

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Ankeny, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 67.5%
Net price: $16,282
Earnings 10y: $40,650
Acceptance: 67.5%

Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 68.5%
Net price: $25,807
Earnings 10y: $52,559
Acceptance: 68.5%

Morningside University

Sioux City, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 71%
Net price: $31,320
Earnings 10y: $55,494
Acceptance: 71%

Luther College

Decorah, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 71.5%
Net price: $23,097
Earnings 10y: $59,850
Acceptance: 71.5%

Clarke University

Dubuque, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 71.8%
Net price: $24,479
Earnings 10y: $55,396
Acceptance: 71.8%

#10

Wartburg College

Waverly, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 75.8%
Net price: $32,908
Earnings 10y: $56,201
Acceptance: 75.8%

#11

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 77%
Net price: $19,693
Earnings 10y: $51,165
Acceptance: 77%

#12

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 77.3%
Net price: $24,691
Earnings 10y: $59,531
Acceptance: 77.3%

#13

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 77.6%
Net price: $18,846
Earnings 10y: $49,156
Acceptance: 77.6%

#14

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 79.9%
Net price: $23,634
Earnings 10y: $53,460
Acceptance: 79.9%

#15

St Luke's College

Sioux City, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 80%
Net price: $19,820
Earnings 10y: $61,033
Acceptance: 80%

#16

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 80.4%
Net price: $25,907
Earnings 10y: $49,802
Acceptance: 80.4%

#17

Graceland University-Lamoni

Lamoni, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 80.8%
Net price: $18,504
Earnings 10y: $47,361
Acceptance: 80.8%

#18

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 82.5%
Net price: $20,168
Earnings 10y: $60,787
Acceptance: 82.5%

#19

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public

Acceptance: 83.6%
Net price: $22,531
Earnings 10y: $64,762
Acceptance: 83.6%

#20

Central College

Pella, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 86.2%
Net price: $23,377
Earnings 10y: $54,317
Acceptance: 86.2%

#21

Simpson College

Indianola, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 86.2%
Net price: $21,936
Earnings 10y: $59,274
Acceptance: 86.2%

#22

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 88.6%
Net price: $23,386
Earnings 10y: $51,190
Acceptance: 88.6%

#23

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

Acceptance: 88.7%
Net price: $18,589
Earnings 10y: $63,386
Acceptance: 88.7%

#24

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

Acceptance: 92.7%
Net price: $15,901
Earnings 10y: $55,177
Acceptance: 92.7%

#25

Maharishi International University

Fairfield, IA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 95.7%
Net price: $14,956
Earnings 10y: $27,981
Acceptance: 95.7%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Iowa colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 6.34 (3 public, 22 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 14.5%.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Iowa colleges are in this list?

29 Iowa colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.