How does FindMySchool.ai work?

FindMySchool.ai analyzes over 6,400 U.S. colleges using verified federal data from the College Scorecard and IPEDS. Students answer a short questionnaire about their academics, personal interests, goals, location preferences, and budget. Our AI then generates a personalized report with ranked school recommendations, financial fit estimates, admissions factor analysis, and career outcome data.

How much does FindMySchool.ai cost?

FindMySchool.ai provides the same quality of college guidance that private counselors charge $5,000–$15,000 for — starting at just $29 per report.

What data sources does FindMySchool.ai use?

FindMySchool.ai uses U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), Common Data Set submissions from individual colleges, and Clery Act campus safety statistics. All data is from official federal and institutional sources.

How is FindMySchool.ai different from College Confidential or Niche?

Unlike ranking sites or review platforms, FindMySchool.ai builds a personalized match for each student using their interests, goals, and priorities — not generic rankings. Recommendations include financial fit estimates by family income, admissions factor importance (from each school's Common Data Set), career outcome data by intended major, and AI-generated counselor-quality profiles explaining why each school fits that specific student.

What is the Common Data Set?

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a standardized survey that U.S. colleges complete annually, reporting admissions factors, test score ranges, cost information, graduation rates, and more. FindMySchool.ai uses CDS Section C7 data to identify which admissions factors each college rates as 'Very Important' — including whether demonstrated interest affects admissions decisions.

Best Colleges in Iowa (2026)

75 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Colleges

$44,074

Avg Earnings (10yr)

$16,975

Avg Net Price

78%

Avg Admit Rate

57%

Avg Grad Rate

State Overview

Iowa is home to 75 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Drake University leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $44,074 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, Iowa offers diverse options across all price points.

Quick Facts — Iowa Colleges

Highest Earning

Drake University

$71,901median earnings

Most Selective

Grinnell College

13%acceptance rate

Best Grad Rate

Grinnell College

88%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable

Marshalltown Community College

$7,144avg net price

Top 10 Colleges in Iowa by Graduate Earnings

Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.

Drake University

Des Moines·Private Nonprofit

Admit

64%

Net Price

$30,042

Grad Rate

77%

Earnings

$71,901

Allen College

Waterloo·Private Nonprofit

Admit

N/A

Net Price

N/A

Grad Rate

N/A

Earnings

$71,261

University of Iowa

Iowa City·Public

Admit

85%

Net Price

$21,398

Grad Rate

73%

Earnings

$64,762

Iowa State University

Ames·Public

Admit

89%

Net Price

$18,165

Grad Rate

75%

Earnings

$63,386

Grinnell College

Grinnell·Private Nonprofit

Admit

13%

Net Price

$15,608

Grad Rate

88%

Earnings

$62,830

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Des Moines·Private Nonprofit

Admit

99%

Net Price

$23,417

Grad Rate

47%

Earnings

$62,234

St Luke's College

Sioux City·Private Nonprofit

Admit

44%

Net Price

$13,021

Grad Rate

N/A

Earnings

$61,033

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids·Private Nonprofit

Admit

79%

Net Price

$23,435

Grad Rate

57%

Earnings

$60,787

Luther College

Decorah·Private Nonprofit

Admit

73%

Net Price

$25,635

Grad Rate

75%

Earnings

$59,850

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport·Private Nonprofit

Admit

73%

Net Price

$22,750

Grad Rate

63%

Earnings

$59,531

Most Affordable Colleges in Iowa

Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.

#1 Most AffordablePublic

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, IA

$7,144/ yr avg net

36% grad rate

#2 Most AffordablePublic

Indian Hills Community College

Ottumwa, IA

$7,492/ yr avg net

38% grad rate

#3 Most AffordablePublic

North Iowa Area Community College

Mason City, IA

$8,849/ yr avg net

55% grad rate

#4 Most AffordablePublic

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Sioux City, IA

$8,875/ yr avg net

41% grad rate

#5 Most AffordablePublic

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA

$9,388/ yr avg net

38% grad rate

Popular Majors

Compare the best colleges for top fields of study — ranked by graduate earnings nationwide.

Business Administration Accounting Marketing Finance Business International Business Computer Science Computer & Information Science Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Civil Engineering View all majors

Personalized Match

Find your best-fit Iowa college

Get a personalized report based on your interests, goals, and what matters most to you — in minutes.

Find my Iowa college

All Colleges in Iowa

All 75 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.

School	City	Type	Admit Rate	Net Price	Grad Rate	Earnings (10yr)
Allen College	Waterloo	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$71,261
American Hair Academy	Mt. Pleasant	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,892	73%	$28,724
Aveda Institute-Des Moines	West Des Moines	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,155	98%	$36,132
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School	Urbandale	Private For-Profit	N/A	$48,265	N/A	N/A
Briar Cliff University	Sioux City	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$21,590	46%	$54,475
Buena Vista University	Storm Lake	Private Nonprofit	72%	$18,321	52%	$49,156
Capri College-Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,683	77%	$29,307
Capri College-Davenport	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$12,882	63%	$26,932
Capri College-Dubuque	Dubuque	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,104	74%	$28,266
Carlson College of Massage Therapy	Anamosa	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,205	N/A	$26,893
Central College	Pella	Private Nonprofit	79%	$22,353	70%	$54,317
Clarke University	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	68%	$20,068	56%	$55,396
Coe College	Cedar Rapids	Private Nonprofit	71%	$19,155	62%	$57,125
Cornell College	Mount Vernon	Private Nonprofit	81%	$25,079	68%	$53,460
Des Moines Area Community College	Ankeny	Public	N/A	$11,050	34%	$41,018
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center	West Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Divine Word College	Epworth	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Dordt University	Sioux Center	Private Nonprofit	71%	$25,383	66%	$52,559
Drake University	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	64%	$30,042	77%	$71,901
Eastern Iowa Community College District	Davenport	Public	N/A	$9,722	37%	$39,060
Ellsworth Community College	Iowa Falls	Public	N/A	$10,915	36%	$40,562
Emmaus Bible College	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	98%	$12,904	82%	$42,631
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary	Ankeny	Private Nonprofit	50%	$17,819	59%	$40,650
Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake	Private For-Profit	N/A	$5,498	N/A	$23,784
Graceland University-Lamoni	Lamoni	Private Nonprofit	83%	$15,975	43%	$47,361
Grand View University	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	98%	$21,616	54%	$52,824
Grinnell College	Grinnell	Private Nonprofit	13%	$15,608	88%	$62,830
Hawkeye Community College	Waterloo	Public	N/A	$10,298	32%	$42,849
Indian Hills Community College	Ottumwa	Public	N/A	$7,492	38%	$40,507
Iowa Central Community College	Fort Dodge	Public	N/A	$9,601	41%	$42,046
Iowa Lakes Community College	Estherville	Public	N/A	$10,846	31%	$43,108
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines	Des Moines	Private For-Profit	N/A	$10,298	72%	$25,803
Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City	Sioux City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$9,798	56%	$26,654
Iowa State University	Ames	Public	89%	$18,165	75%	$63,386
Iowa Western Community College	Council Bluffs	Public	N/A	$11,574	38%	$42,793
Kirkwood Community College	Cedar Rapids	Public	N/A	$9,388	38%	$41,016
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology	Mason City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$9,098	71%	$27,484
La James International College-Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,965	N/A	$25,575
La James International College-Davenport	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,940	58%	$23,303
La James International College-Ft Dodge	Fort Dodge	Private For-Profit	N/A	$17,276	58%	$26,679
La James International College-Johnston	Johnston	Private For-Profit	N/A	$17,456	65%	$27,401
Loras College	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	92%	$21,057	69%	$58,289
Luther College	Decorah	Private Nonprofit	73%	$25,635	75%	$59,850
Maharishi International University	Fairfield	Private Nonprofit	97%	$18,225	35%	$27,981
Marshalltown Community College	Marshalltown	Public	N/A	$7,144	36%	$41,010
Mercy College of Health Sciences	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	99%	$23,417	47%	$62,234
Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology	Cedar Rapids	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Morningside University	Sioux City	Private Nonprofit	71%	$23,169	54%	$55,494
Mount Mercy University	Cedar Rapids	Private Nonprofit	79%	$23,435	57%	$60,787
North Iowa Area Community College	Mason City	Public	N/A	$8,849	55%	$43,462
Northeast Iowa Community College	Calmar	Public	N/A	$10,059	48%	$41,306
Northwest Iowa Community College	Sheldon	Public	N/A	$12,357	60%	$50,776
Northwestern College	Orange City	Private Nonprofit	87%	$23,519	63%	$49,802
Orion Technical College	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,489	84%	$37,008
Palmer College of Chiropractic	Davenport	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	$59,483
PCI Academy-Ames	Ames	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,518	83%	$31,330
PCI Academy-Iowa City	Iowa City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,648	N/A	$31,330
Ross College-Davenport	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$22,619	60%	$29,898
Saint Ambrose University	Davenport	Private Nonprofit	73%	$22,750	63%	$59,531
Simpson College	Indianola	Private Nonprofit	89%	$22,231	66%	$59,274
SOHO Hair Academy	Council Bluffs	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,765	69%	$17,349
Southeastern Community College	West Burlington	Public	N/A	$12,812	41%	$36,882
Southwestern Community College	Creston	Public	N/A	$9,775	53%	$40,129
St Luke's College	Sioux City	Private Nonprofit	44%	$13,021	N/A	$61,033
The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,595	63%	$20,955
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic Technology	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
University of Dubuque	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	87%	$23,250	40%	$51,190
University of Iowa	Iowa City	Public	85%	$21,398	73%	$64,762
University of Northern Iowa	Cedar Falls	Public	94%	$14,609	66%	$55,177
Upper Iowa University	Fayette	Private Nonprofit	93%	$23,172	42%	$52,766
Waldorf University	Forest City	Private For-Profit	73%	$21,683	27%	$51,165
Wartburg College	Waverly	Private Nonprofit	99%	$22,604	67%	$56,201
Wartburg Theological Seminary	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Western Iowa Tech Community College	Sioux City	Public	N/A	$8,875	41%	$40,473
William Penn University	Oskaloosa	Private Nonprofit	57%	$22,115	30%	$48,936

Showing 75 of 75 schools