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)

$17,924

Avg Net Price

78%

Avg Admit Rate

59%

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

15%acceptance rate

Best Grad Rate

Grinnell College

88%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable

Marshalltown Community College

$8,059avg 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

$29,127

Grad Rate

76%

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

84%

Net Price

$22,531

Grad Rate

74%

Earnings

$64,762

Iowa State University

Ames·Public

Admit

89%

Net Price

$18,589

Grad Rate

75%

Earnings

$63,386

Grinnell College

Grinnell·Private Nonprofit

Admit

15%

Net Price

$17,648

Grad Rate

88%

Earnings

$62,830

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Des Moines·Private Nonprofit

Admit

100%

Net Price

$26,924

Grad Rate

56%

Earnings

$62,234

St Luke's College

Sioux City·Private Nonprofit

Admit

80%

Net Price

$19,820

Grad Rate

N/A

Earnings

$61,033

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids·Private Nonprofit

Admit

83%

Net Price

$20,168

Grad Rate

57%

Earnings

$60,787

Luther College

Decorah·Private Nonprofit

Admit

72%

Net Price

$23,097

Grad Rate

73%

Earnings

$59,850

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport·Private Nonprofit

Admit

77%

Net Price

$24,691

Grad Rate

62%

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

$8,059/ yr avg net

40% grad rate

#2 Most AffordablePublic

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Sioux City, IA

$8,770/ yr avg net

44% grad rate

#3 Most AffordablePublic

Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, IA

$9,328/ yr avg net

43% grad rate

#4 Most AffordablePublic

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA

$9,649/ yr avg net

38% grad rate

#5 Most AffordablePublic

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA

$9,705/ yr avg net

42% 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	$11,556	65%	$28,724
Aveda Institute-Des Moines	West Des Moines	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,552	93%	$36,132
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School	Urbandale	Private For-Profit	N/A	$44,980	N/A	N/A
Briar Cliff University	Sioux City	Private Nonprofit	N/A	$23,907	48%	$54,475
Buena Vista University	Storm Lake	Private Nonprofit	78%	$18,846	54%	$49,156
Capri College-Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,541	72%	$29,307
Capri College-Davenport	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,635	69%	$26,932
Capri College-Dubuque	Dubuque	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,660	75%	$28,266
Carlson College of Massage Therapy	Anamosa	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,141	N/A	$26,893
Central College	Pella	Private Nonprofit	86%	$23,377	68%	$54,317
Clarke University	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	72%	$24,479	56%	$55,396
Coe College	Cedar Rapids	Private Nonprofit	64%	$18,745	62%	$57,125
Cornell College	Mount Vernon	Private Nonprofit	80%	$23,634	67%	$53,460
Des Moines Area Community College	Ankeny	Public	N/A	$11,171	37%	$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	68%	$25,807	68%	$52,559
Drake University	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	64%	$29,127	76%	$71,901
Eastern Iowa Community College District	Davenport	Public	N/A	$14,017	39%	$39,060
Ellsworth Community College	Iowa Falls	Public	N/A	$11,451	40%	$40,562
Emmaus Bible College	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	60%	$13,186	82%	$42,631
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary	Ankeny	Private Nonprofit	68%	$16,282	64%	$40,650
Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake	Private For-Profit	N/A	$5,508	N/A	$23,784
Graceland University-Lamoni	Lamoni	Private Nonprofit	81%	$18,504	40%	$47,361
Grand View University	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	99%	$21,774	55%	$52,824
Grinnell College	Grinnell	Private Nonprofit	15%	$17,648	88%	$62,830
Hawkeye Community College	Waterloo	Public	N/A	$9,649	38%	$42,849
Indian Hills Community College	Ottumwa	Public	N/A	$10,693	40%	$40,507
Iowa Central Community College	Fort Dodge	Public	N/A	$9,328	43%	$42,046
Iowa Lakes Community College	Estherville	Public	N/A	$13,933	36%	$43,108
Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines	Des Moines	Private For-Profit	N/A	$12,673	80%	$25,803
Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City	Sioux City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$16,878	59%	$26,654
Iowa State University	Ames	Public	89%	$18,589	75%	$63,386
Iowa Western Community College	Council Bluffs	Public	N/A	$14,629	40%	$42,793
Kirkwood Community College	Cedar Rapids	Public	N/A	$9,705	42%	$41,016
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology	Mason City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$4,522	74%	$27,484
La James International College-Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls	Private For-Profit	N/A	$18,569	59%	$25,575
La James International College-Davenport	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$17,813	83%	$23,303
La James International College-Ft Dodge	Fort Dodge	Private For-Profit	N/A	$14,824	N/A	$26,679
La James International College-Johnston	Johnston	Private For-Profit	N/A	$15,759	79%	$27,401
Loras College	Dubuque	Private Nonprofit	100%	$20,716	69%	$58,289
Luther College	Decorah	Private Nonprofit	72%	$23,097	73%	$59,850
Maharishi International University	Fairfield	Private Nonprofit	96%	$14,956	34%	$27,981
Marshalltown Community College	Marshalltown	Public	N/A	$8,059	40%	$41,010
Mercy College of Health Sciences	Des Moines	Private Nonprofit	100%	$26,924	56%	$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%	$31,320	52%	$55,494
Mount Mercy University	Cedar Rapids	Private Nonprofit	83%	$20,168	57%	$60,787
North Iowa Area Community College	Mason City	Public	N/A	$10,010	58%	$43,462
Northeast Iowa Community College	Calmar	Public	N/A	$11,272	50%	$41,306
Northwest Iowa Community College	Sheldon	Public	N/A	$14,800	57%	$50,776
Northwestern College	Orange City	Private Nonprofit	80%	$25,907	65%	$49,802
Orion Technical College	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$26,439	81%	$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	$20,533	68%	$31,330
PCI Academy-Iowa City	Iowa City	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,938	68%	$31,330
Ross College-Davenport	Davenport	Private For-Profit	N/A	$20,254	62%	$29,898
Saint Ambrose University	Davenport	Private Nonprofit	77%	$24,691	62%	$59,531
Simpson College	Indianola	Private Nonprofit	86%	$21,936	64%	$59,274
SOHO Hair Academy	Council Bluffs	Private For-Profit	N/A	$13,198	71%	$17,349
Southeastern Community College	West Burlington	Public	N/A	$12,347	43%	$36,882
Southwestern Community College	Creston	Public	N/A	$9,871	56%	$40,129
St Luke's College	Sioux City	Private Nonprofit	80%	$19,820	N/A	$61,033
The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls	Private For-Profit	N/A	$11,742	52%	$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	89%	$23,386	41%	$51,190
University of Iowa	Iowa City	Public	84%	$22,531	74%	$64,762
University of Northern Iowa	Cedar Falls	Public	93%	$15,901	68%	$55,177
Upper Iowa University	Fayette	Private Nonprofit	96%	$20,942	38%	$52,766
Waldorf University	Forest City	Private For-Profit	77%	$19,693	24%	$51,165
Wartburg College	Waverly	Private Nonprofit	76%	$32,908	66%	$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	$8,770	44%	$40,473
William Penn University	Oskaloosa	Private Nonprofit	52%	$22,601	31%	$48,936

Showing 75 of 75 schools