Hidden Gem Colleges in Iowa (2026)
Updated
This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out. The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page.
University of Iowa, a public institution in Iowa City, ranks 1st on this list and reports $69,866 in median earnings for its graduates four years after completing. The list covers 6 four-year nonprofit institutions in Iowa, including 3 public and 3 private nonprofit colleges.
Public institutions make up 50% of the listed schools on this page. University of Iowa ranks 184th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
University of Northern Iowa posts the lowest average net price on the list at $15,901.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $69,866 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
| University of Iowa reports median earnings of $69,866 for its graduates four years after completing, and ranks 184th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 2 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $68,277 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| Iowa State University posts an average net price of $10,582 for families earning under $30,000, and its six-year completion rate is 75%. | |||||
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA | $54,830 | $15,901 | $10,863 | 92.7% |
| University of Northern Iowa carries the lowest average net price on the page at $15,901, and admits 93% of applicants. | |||||
| 4 | Graceland University-Lamoni · Lamoni, IA | $63,607 | $18,504 | $15,875 | 80.8% |
| Graduates across all fields from Graceland University-Lamoni earn a median of $63,607 four years after completing, while the school's six-year completion rate sits at 42%. | |||||
| 5 | Grand View University · Des Moines, IA | $57,521 | $21,774 | $18,512 | 99.1% |
| Grand View University has an admission rate of 99% and its graduates across all fields earn a median of $57,521 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary · Ankeny, IA | $35,449 | $16,282 | $14,121 | 67.5% |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary posts a six-year completion rate of 68% and an average net price of $16,282. | |||||
How this list is ordered
This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out. The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The ordering metric is the median earnings of federally aided completers at each institution, across all fields, measured four years after completing, among those who were working and not enrolled. The list does not measure earnings in any one major or teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 6 schools with a reported completion median. The list splits evenly between public and private institutions, with 3 public and 3 private colleges.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Iowa
- Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa
- Highest Paying Colleges in Iowa
- Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Iowa