List of colleges and universities in Iowa


There are fifty-two colleges and universities in the U.S. state of Iowa that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The Iowa Board of Regents, a governing board, oversees the state's three public universities – the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa.
With 4,504 students, Drake University is the state's largest private not-for-profit school. The state's oldest post-secondary institution is Loras College, a private Catholic school in Dubuque that was founded in 1839, seven years before Iowa became a state.
The state's only two law schools, the University of Iowa College of Law and Drake University Law School, are both accredited by the American Bar Association. Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and Des Moines University are the state's two medical schools. The majority of Iowa's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the National League for Nursing.

Extant institutions

InstitutionLocationControlTypeEnrollment
FoundedAccreditation
University of IowaIowa CityPublicResearch university30,0421847HLC, ACPE, ABA, ADA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CPE, CAHME, CCNE, CELPA, AANA, CEPH, JRCERT, LCME, NASD, NASM, NAST
Iowa State UniversityAmesPublicResearch university30,1771858HLC, AAMFT, ADA, APA, AVMA, NASM
University of Northern IowaCedar FallsPublicMaster's university9,0131876HLC, ASHA, NASM
Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkenyPublicAssociate's college24,4181966HLC, ABFSE, ADA, NLNAC
Eastern Iowa Community CollegesDavenportPublicAssociate's college7,1281965HLC
Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa FallsPublicAssociate's college6851890HLC
Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterlooPublicAssociate's college4,7961966HLC, ADA, APTA
Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwaPublicAssociate's college3,2361969HLC, AOTA, APTA, JRCERT
Iowa Central Community CollegeFort DodgePublicAssociate's college4,9091966HLC, ADA, JRCERT, NLNAC
Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEsthervillePublicAssociate's college2,0241967HLC
Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil BluffsPublicAssociate's college5,5031966HLC, NLNAC, ADA
Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar RapidsPublicAssociate's college12,6601966HLC, ADA, AOTA, APTA
Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltownPublicAssociate's college1,8701927HLC, ADA
North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason CityPublicAssociate's college2,4711918HLC, APTA, NLNAC
Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmarPublicAssociate's college4,3781967HLC
Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldonPublicAssociate's college1,7921966HLC
Southeastern Community CollegeWest BurlingtonPublicAssociate's college2,5621967HLC
Southwestern Community CollegeCrestonPublicAssociate's college1,6331966HLC
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux CityPublicAssociate's college5,0711966HLC, ADA, APTA, NLNAC
Allen CollegeWaterlooPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution4891925HLC, CCNE, JRCERT, NLNAC
Briar Cliff UniversitySioux CityPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college9401930HLC, CCNE, NLNAC
Buena Vista UniversityStorm LakePrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,9511891HLC
Central CollegePellaPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,0951853HLC, NASM
Clarke UniversityDubuquePrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,0251843HLC, APTA, CCNE, NASM
Coe CollegeCedar RapidsPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,2781851HLC, CCNE, NASM
Cornell CollegeMount VernonPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,0841853HLC
Des Moines UniversityDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1,5211898HLC, AOA, APTA, APMA, CEPH
Divine Word CollegeEpworthPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution611931HLC
Dordt UniversitySioux CenterPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,9291955HLC, CCNE
Drake UniversityDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university4,5041881HLC, ACPE, ABA, NASAD, NASM
Emmaus UniversityDubuquePrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1971941ABHE, HLC
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkenyPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution5861921ABHE, HLC
Graceland UniversityLamoniPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university1,1951895HLC, TCATE
Grand View UniversityDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university1,7961896HLC, CCNE
Grinnell CollegeGrinnellPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,7751846HLC
Loras CollegeDubuquePrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,2131839HLC
Luther CollegeDecorahPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4631861HLC, CCNE, NASM, TCATE
Maharishi International UniversityFairfieldPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university2,6661971HLC
Mercy College of Health SciencesDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution9071995HLC, APTA, CCNE, JRCERT, JRCNMT, NLNAC
Morningside UniversitySioux CityPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college2,1581894HLC, CCNE, NASM, TCATE
Mount Mercy UniversityCedar RapidsPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4511928HLC, CCNE
Northwestern CollegeOrange CityPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,6651882HLC, CCNE, TCATE
Palmer College of ChiropracticDavenportPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution2,2191897HLC, CCE
Simpson CollegeIndianolaPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,1631860HLC, NASM
St. Ambrose UniversityDavenportPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university2,7031882HLC, AOTA, APTA, CCNE, TCATE
St. Luke's CollegeSioux CityPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1961966HLC, JRCERT, NLNAC
University of DubuqueDubuquePrivate not-for-profitMaster's university1,7951852HLC, ATSCA, CCNE
Upper Iowa UniversityFayettePrivate not-for-profitMaster's university3,1021857HLC, CCNE
Wartburg CollegeWaverlyPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4721852HLC, NASM, NAST
Wartburg Theological SeminaryDubuquePrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1641854ATSCA, HLC
William Penn UniversityOskaloosaPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,5361873HLC
Waldorf UniversityForest CityPrivate for-profitBaccalaureate college2,6571903HLC

Defunct institutions

InstitutionLocationControlFoundedClosedRef
AIB College of BusinessDes MoinesPrivate19212016
Algona CollegeAlgonaPrivate18681875
Ashford UniversityClintonPrivate for-profit19182016
Charles City CollegeCharles CityPrivate18911914
Des Moines UniversityDes MoinesPrivate18651929
Grundy CollegeGrundy Center, IowaPrivate19161934
Highland Park CollegeDes MoinesPrivate18901918
Iowa Wesleyan UniversityMount PleasantPrivate not-for-profit18422023
Kaplan UniversityvariousPrivate for-profit19372018-
Leander Clark CollegeToledoPrivate18571918
Lenox CollegeHopkintonPrivate18591944
Marycrest International UniversityDavenportPrivate19392002
Midwestern CollegeDenisonPrivate19651970
Ottumwa Heights CollegeOttumwaPrivate18641980
Parsons CollegeFairfieldPrivate18751973
Sioux Empire CollegeHawardenPublic19651985
Tabor CollegeTaborPrivate18531927
Vatterott CollegeDes MoinesPrivate for-profit19692018
Vennard CollegeUniversity ParkPrivate19102008
Westmar UniversityLe MarsPrivate18901997
Wilton German English CollegeWiltonPrivate18941904

Key

AbbreviationAccrediting agency
AAMFTAmerican Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
AANAAmerican Association of Nurse Anesthetists
ABAAmerican Bar Association
ABFSEAmerican Board of Funeral Service Education
ABHEAssociation for Biblical Higher Education
ABHESAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
ACCSCAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
ACICSAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
ACPEAccreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
ACPEAssociation for Clinical Pastoral Education
ADAAmerican Dental Association
ADAAmerican Dietetic Association
AOAAmerican Osteopathic Association
AOTAAmerican Occupational Therapy Association
APAAmerican Psychological Association
APMAAmerican Podiatric Medical Association
APTAAmerican Physical Therapy Association
ASHAAmerican Speech–Language–Hearing Association
ATSCAAssociation of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
AVMAAmerican Veterinary Medical Association
CAHMECommission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
CCECouncil on Chiropractic Education
CCNECommission on Collegiate Nursing Education
CELPACommission on English Language Program Accreditation
CEPHCouncil on Education for Public Health
JRCERTJoint Review Committee on Education Programs in Radiologic Technology
JRCNMTJoint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology
LCMELiaison Committee on Medical Education
NASADNational Association of Schools of Art and Design
NASDNational Association of Schools of Dance
NASMNational Association of Schools of Music
NASTNational Association of Schools of Theatre
HLCHigher Learning Commission
NCATENational Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
NLNACNational League for Nursing