List of Colleges and Universities In Iowa For 2025

List of Colleges and Universities In Iowa: Iowa has 56 Carnegie Classification colleges and institutions. The Iowa Board of Regents governs Iowa’s three public universities: the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa.

Drake University is the state’s largest private non-profit with 4,685 students. Iowa’s oldest post-secondary institution is Loras College, a private Catholic school in Dubuque founded in 1839, seven years before the state was founded.

The American Bar Association accredits Iowa’s only two law schools, Drake and Iowa. State’s medical schools include Des Moines University and Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. The Higher Learning Commission accredits most Iowa post-secondary schools. Most are accredited by the CCNE, NASM, and NLC.

List of Colleges and Universities In Iowa
List of Colleges and Universities In Iowa

List of Colleges and Universities in Iowa

Here is the complete list of all colleges and universities:

Public Universities

  • University of Iowa : Iowa City | Research University | Founded 1847

  • Iowa State University : Ames | Research University | Founded 1858

  • University of Northern Iowa : Cedar Falls | Master’s University | Founded 1876

Public Community Colleges (Associate’s Colleges)

  • Des Moines Area Community College : Ankeny | Founded 1966

  • Eastern Iowa Community Colleges : Davenport | Founded 1965

  • Ellsworth Community College : Iowa Falls | Founded 1890

  • Hawkeye Community College : Waterloo | Founded 1966

  • Indian Hills Community College : Ottumwa | Founded 1969

  • Iowa Central Community College : Fort Dodge | Founded 1966

  • Iowa Lakes Community College : Estherville | Founded 1967

  • Iowa Western Community College : Council Bluffs | Founded 1966

  • Kirkwood Community College : Cedar Rapids | Founded 1966

  • Marshalltown Community College : Marshalltown | Founded 1927

  • North Iowa Area Community College : Mason City | Founded 1918

  • Northeast Iowa Community College : Calmar | Founded 1967

  • Northwest Iowa Community College : Sheldon | Founded 1966

  • Southeastern Community College : West Burlington | Founded 1967

  • Southwestern Community College : Creston | Founded 1966

  • Western Iowa Tech Community College : Sioux City | Founded 1966

Private Not-for-Profit Colleges & Universities

Special-Focus Institutions

  • Allen College : Waterloo | Founded 1925

  • Des Moines University : Des Moines | Founded 1898

  • Divine Word College : Epworth | Founded 1931

  • Emmaus University : Dubuque | Founded 1941

  • Faith Baptist Bible College and Seminary : Ankeny | Founded 1921

  • Mercy College of Health Sciences : Des Moines | Founded 1995

  • Palmer College of Chiropractic : Davenport | Founded 1897

  • St. Luke’s College : Sioux City | Founded 1966

  • Wartburg Theological Seminary : Dubuque | Founded 1854

Baccalaureate Colleges

  • Briar Cliff University : Sioux City | Founded 1930

  • Buena Vista University : Storm Lake | Founded 1891

  • Central College : Pella | Founded 1853

  • Clarke University : Dubuque | Founded 1843

  • Coe College : Cedar Rapids | Founded 1851

  • Cornell College : Mount Vernon | Founded 1853

  • Dordt University : Sioux Center | Founded 1955

  • Grinnell College : Grinnell | Founded 1846

  • Loras College : Dubuque | Founded 1839

  • Luther College : Decorah | Founded 1861

  • Morningside University : Sioux City | Founded 1894

  • Mount Mercy University : Cedar Rapids | Founded 1928

  • Northwestern College : Orange City | Founded 1882

  • Simpson College : Indianola | Founded 1860

  • Wartburg College : Waverly | Founded 1852

  • William Penn University : Oskaloosa | Founded 1873

Master’s Universities

  • Drake University : Des Moines | Founded 1881

  • Graceland University : Lamoni | Founded 1895

  • Grand View University : Des Moines | Founded 1896

  • Maharishi International University : Fairfield | Founded 1971

  • St. Ambrose University : Davenport | Founded 1882

  • University of Dubuque : Dubuque | Founded 1852

  • Upper Iowa University : Fayette | Founded 1857

Private For-Profit Institution

  • Waldorf University : Forest City | Baccalaureate College | Founded 1903

List of Closed Colleges And Universities

Institution Location(s) Founded Closed
AIB College of Business Des Moines 1921 2016
Algona College Algona 1868 1875
Ashford University Clinton 1918 2016
Charles City College Charles City 1891 1914
Des Moines University (1865–1929) Des Moines 1865 1929
Grundy College Grundy Center 1916 1934
Highland Park College Des Moines 1890 1918
Iowa Wesleyan University Mount Pleasant 1842 2023
Kaplan University Various 1937 2018
Leander Clark College Toledo 1857 1918
Lenox College Hopkinton 1859 1944
Marycrest International University Davenport 1939 2002
Midwestern College Denison 1965 1970
Ottumwa Heights College Ottumwa 1864 1980
Parsons College Fairfield 1875 1973
Sioux Empire College Hawarden 1965 1985
Tabor College Tabor 1853 1927
Vatterott College Des Moines 1969 2018
Vennard College University Park 1910 2008
Westmar University Le Mars 1890 1997
Wilton German English College Wilton 1894 1904
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