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
Here is the complete list of all colleges and universities:
Public Universities
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University of Iowa : Iowa City | Research University | Founded 1847
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Iowa State University : Ames | Research University | Founded 1858
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University of Northern Iowa : Cedar Falls | Master’s University | Founded 1876
Public Community Colleges (Associate’s Colleges)
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Des Moines Area Community College : Ankeny | Founded 1966
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Eastern Iowa Community Colleges : Davenport | Founded 1965
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Ellsworth Community College : Iowa Falls | Founded 1890
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Hawkeye Community College : Waterloo | Founded 1966
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Indian Hills Community College : Ottumwa | Founded 1969
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Iowa Central Community College : Fort Dodge | Founded 1966
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Iowa Lakes Community College : Estherville | Founded 1967
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Iowa Western Community College : Council Bluffs | Founded 1966
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Kirkwood Community College : Cedar Rapids | Founded 1966
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Marshalltown Community College : Marshalltown | Founded 1927
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North Iowa Area Community College : Mason City | Founded 1918
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Northeast Iowa Community College : Calmar | Founded 1967
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Northwest Iowa Community College : Sheldon | Founded 1966
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Southeastern Community College : West Burlington | Founded 1967
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Southwestern Community College : Creston | Founded 1966
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Western Iowa Tech Community College : Sioux City | Founded 1966
Private Not-for-Profit Colleges & Universities
Special-Focus Institutions
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Allen College : Waterloo | Founded 1925
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Des Moines University : Des Moines | Founded 1898
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Divine Word College : Epworth | Founded 1931
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Emmaus University : Dubuque | Founded 1941
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Faith Baptist Bible College and Seminary : Ankeny | Founded 1921
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Mercy College of Health Sciences : Des Moines | Founded 1995
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Palmer College of Chiropractic : Davenport | Founded 1897
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St. Luke’s College : Sioux City | Founded 1966
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Wartburg Theological Seminary : Dubuque | Founded 1854
Baccalaureate Colleges
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Briar Cliff University : Sioux City | Founded 1930
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Buena Vista University : Storm Lake | Founded 1891
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Central College : Pella | Founded 1853
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Clarke University : Dubuque | Founded 1843
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Coe College : Cedar Rapids | Founded 1851
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Cornell College : Mount Vernon | Founded 1853
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Dordt University : Sioux Center | Founded 1955
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Grinnell College : Grinnell | Founded 1846
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Loras College : Dubuque | Founded 1839
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Luther College : Decorah | Founded 1861
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Morningside University : Sioux City | Founded 1894
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Mount Mercy University : Cedar Rapids | Founded 1928
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Northwestern College : Orange City | Founded 1882
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Simpson College : Indianola | Founded 1860
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Wartburg College : Waverly | Founded 1852
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William Penn University : Oskaloosa | Founded 1873
Master’s Universities
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Drake University : Des Moines | Founded 1881
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Graceland University : Lamoni | Founded 1895
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Grand View University : Des Moines | Founded 1896
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Maharishi International University : Fairfield | Founded 1971
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St. Ambrose University : Davenport | Founded 1882
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University of Dubuque : Dubuque | Founded 1852
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Upper Iowa University : Fayette | Founded 1857
Private For-Profit Institution
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Waldorf University : Forest City | Baccalaureate College | Founded 1903
List of Closed Colleges And Universities
Institution | Location(s) | Founded | Closed |
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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 |