Iowa · Getting in
Most selective colleges in Iowa
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in Iowa are Grinnell (14% admitted), William Penn University (52% admitted) and Drake University (64% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (14 of 27)
Four-year colleges in Iowa with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 14 of the 27 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 13 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 1 college.
- Grinnell College 14% admitted Grinnell, IA · Average price after grants: $15,203 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- William Penn University 52% admitted Oskaloosa, IA · Average price after grants: $23,749 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Drake University 64% admitted Des Moines, IA · Average price after grants: $29,415 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Coe College 64% admitted Cedar Rapids, IA · Average price after grants: $18,647 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Dordt University 69% admitted Sioux Center, IA · Average price after grants: $25,944 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Morningside University 71% admitted Sioux City, IA · Average price after grants: $23,505 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Luther College 72% admitted Decorah, IA · Average price after grants: $23,945 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Clarke University 72% admitted Dubuque, IA · Average price after grants: $26,095 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Wartburg College 76% admitted Waverly, IA · Average price after grants: $23,374 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Waldorf University 77% admitted Forest City, IA · Average price after grants: $24,003 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Saint Ambrose University 77% admitted Davenport, IA · Average price after grants: $23,689 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Buena Vista University 78% admitted Storm Lake, IA · Average price after grants: $18,855 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Iowa 80% admitted Iowa City, IA · Average price after grants: $22,508 a year in-state, about $44,596 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Cornell College 80% admitted Mount Vernon, IA · Average price after grants: $25,297 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in Iowa?
The most selective four-year colleges in Iowa are Grinnell (14% admitted), William Penn University (52% admitted) and Drake University (64% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
1 of the 14 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.