Here are the top public colleges that in Iowa. The school list below shows tuition after financial aid, and with the benefit of in-state tuition. Smaller schools are excluded from our list.
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Iowa State University
Iowa State University is a four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in, higher education institution located in Ames, IA. It has an enrollment of 25,537 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 91.12%. The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $15,351. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.
The average SAT score was 1205.0 for the incoming class of 2023. The median ACT score was 25.0 for the incoming class to 2023.
Recent Graduate Salaries
(Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)
- Agricultural Business and Management. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $48,432
- Agricultural Mechanization. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $55,693
- International Agriculture. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
- Agricultural Public Services. (Master’s Degree) – $50,439
- Animal Sciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,289
- Food Science and Technology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $42,682
- Plant Sciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,395
- Plant Sciences. (Master’s Degree) – $68,219
- Veterinary Medicine. (First Professional Degree) – $77,119
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,745
- Forestry. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,348
- Architecture. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $50,060
- Architecture. (Master’s Degree) – $47,260
- City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $43,426
- Landscape Architecture. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,924
- Area Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,848
- Communication and Media Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,134
- Journalism. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,986
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,559
- Computer Science. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $71,734
- Education, General. (Master’s Degree) – $47,455
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,322
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $41,870
- Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $62,734
- Agricultural Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $60,485
- Chemical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $67,156
- Civil Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $62,632
- Civil Engineering. (Master’s Degree) – $66,541
- Computer Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $73,839
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $73,321
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. (Master’s Degree) – $94,408
- Materials Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) – $63,005
- Mechanical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $67,221
- Construction Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $70,083
- Industrial Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $68,101
- Industrial Engineering. (Master’s Degree) – $89,059
- Engineering-Related Fields. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $58,040
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,060
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,674
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,289
- Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $41,565
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,777
- Apparel and Textiles. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,585
- English Language and Literature, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
- English Language and Literature, General. (Master’s Degree) – $38,829
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,993
- Biology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,108
- Biology, General. (Master’s Degree) – $25,194
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,119
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,369
- Genetics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,047
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,183
- Mathematics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $44,542
- Mathematics. (Master’s Degree) – $63,005
- Statistics. (Master’s Degree) – $91,744
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,208
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,126
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,848
- Chemistry. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $49,058
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,704
- Psychology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,771
- Anthropology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $21,964
- Economics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,087
- Political Science and Government. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,529
- Sociology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,776
- Design and Applied Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,721
- Design and Applied Arts. (Master’s Degree) – $43,426
- Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,952
- Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $54,350
- Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Master’s Degree) – $70,680
- Accounting and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $53,537
- Accounting and Related Services. (Master’s Degree) – $58,334
- Finance and Financial Management Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $50,060
- Hospitality Administration/Management. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,832
- International Business. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $55,512
- Management Information Systems and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $59,801
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $51,392
- Marketing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $45,249
- History. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,495
Iowa State University School Spirit
School spirit at Iowa State University is very high. As a land-grant institution, Iowa State has a strong sense of community and pride. Students and alumni often wear the school’s cardinal and gold colors, and the university’s mascot, Cy the Cardinal, is very popular among students. There are many university traditions that help foster school spirit, including the Veishea festival, a week-long celebration of Iowa State’s culture and history that takes place in the spring. Additionally, Iowa State has a strong athletic program with competitive teams in football, basketball, volleyball, and other sports, which also contribute to a strong sense of school spirit on campus.
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University of Iowa
University of Iowa is a four-year, full-time, selective, lower transfer-in, higher education institution located in Iowa City, IA. It has an enrollment of 21,198 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 86.21%. The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $19,443. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.
The average SAT score was 1236.0 for the incoming class of 2023. The median ACT score was 26.0 for the incoming class to 2023.
Recent Graduate Salaries
(Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,993
- City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. (Master’s Degree) – $51,273
- Area Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,993
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
- Communication and Media Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $41,126
- Journalism. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,772
- Journalism. (Master’s Degree) – $64,493
- Computer and Information Sciences, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $54,835
- Educational Administration and Supervision. (Master’s Degree) – $48,198
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services. (Master’s Degree) – $47,260
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. (Master’s Degree) – $48,198
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $56,867
- Chemical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $64,990
- Civil Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $61,651
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $69,657
- Mechanical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $64,581
- Industrial Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $71,351
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $20,140
- Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,926
- Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate). (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,585
- Law. (First Professional Degree) – $69,338
- English Language and Literature, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $26,894
- Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. (Master’s Degree) – $22,727
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,947
- Library Science and Administration. (Master’s Degree) – $43,128
- Biology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,459
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,925
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,289
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. (Doctoral Degree) – $57,318
- Mathematics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $57,318
- International/Global Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,322
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,363
- Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,150
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,928
- Religion/Religious Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,569
- Chemistry. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,312
- Psychology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,290
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. (Doctoral Degree) – $82,440
- Social Work. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,772
- Social Work. (Master’s Degree) – $47,361
- Anthropology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,967
- Economics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $44,389
- Geography and Cartography. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,993
- International Relations and National Security Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,274
- Political Science and Government. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,914
- Sociology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,988
- Dance. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $24,421
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. (Master’s Degree) – $36,941
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,580
- Fine and Studio Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,771
- Fine and Studio Arts. (Master’s Degree) – $33,993
- Music. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,925
- Music. (Doctoral Degree) – $33,993
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $22,920
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Master’s Degree) – $52,941
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Doctoral Degree) – $73,075
- Dentistry. (First Professional Degree) – $134,155
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) – $97,071
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $50,022
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $28,462
- Medicine. (First Professional Degree) – $58,759
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. (First Professional Degree) – $112,215
- Public Health. (Master’s Degree) – $69,757
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. (Master’s Degree) – $45,249
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. (Doctoral Degree) – $64,629
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $60,854
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Doctoral Degree) – $103,913
- Business/Commerce, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,941
- Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $41,193
- Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Master’s Degree) – $96,991
- Accounting and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $59,029
- Accounting and Related Services. (Master’s Degree) – $65,387
- Finance and Financial Management Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $54,073
- Human Resources Management and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $48,041
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $62,260
- Marketing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,589
- History. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,928
University of Iowa School Spirit
School spirit is very high at the University of Iowa. The Hawkeyes are a very proud and passionate community, and there are many ways for students to show their support for the school. The university has a strong athletic program, and many students attend football and basketball games. Additionally, there are many student organizations focused on promoting school spirit and pride, such as the Hawkeye Marching Band and the Iowa Spirit Squad. The university also hosts many events and traditions throughout the year, such as Homecoming Week and the Iowa Wave, where students and fans wave to the kids at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital during Hawkeye football games.
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University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa is a four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in, higher education institution located in Cedar Falls, IA. It has an enrollment of 7,812 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 85.79%. The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $14,017. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.
The average SAT score was 1147.0 for the incoming class of 2023. The median ACT score was 23.0 for the incoming class to 2023.
Recent Graduate Salaries
(Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)
- Communication and Media Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,363
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,554
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,453
- Graphic Communications. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,771
- Computer Science. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $60,399
- Educational Administration and Supervision. (Master’s Degree) – $68,666
- Special Education and Teaching. (Master’s Degree) – $52,107
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services. (Master’s Degree) – $42,086
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,538
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Master’s Degree) – $52,107
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $41,193
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,369
- Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $71,643
- Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $60,771
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,281
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,520
- Apparel and Textiles. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $41,565
- English Language and Literature, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,060
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,547
- Library Science and Administration. (Master’s Degree) – $52,107
- Biology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
- Mathematics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $42,276
- Mathematics. (Master’s Degree) – $55,151
- Statistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $57,318
- Biological and Physical Sciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,909
- Gerontology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $39,927
- Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,138
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,459
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Master’s Degree) – $47,952
- Religion/Religious Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $26,353
- Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,382
- Psychology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,500
- Public Administration. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,896
- Social Work. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,925
- Social Work. (Master’s Degree) – $44,508
- Anthropology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $21,052
- Criminology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,289
- Economics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $42,682
- Political Science and Government. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,368
- Sociology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,704
- Design and Applied Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,993
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
- Fine and Studio Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $27,769
- Music. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
- Music. (Master’s Degree) – $32,925
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $8,846
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Master’s Degree) – $55,151
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,568
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. (Master’s Degree) – $39,729
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $34,259
- Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,165
- Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Master’s Degree) – $64,493
- Accounting and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $52,908
- Accounting and Related Services. (Master’s Degree) – $57,657
- Finance and Financial Management Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $49,752
- Management Information Systems and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $58,673
- Marketing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $45,696
- Real Estate. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $45,221
- Construction Management. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $63,997
- History. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,993
University of Northern Iowa School Spirit
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has a strong sense of school spirit and pride. The university’s athletics program, particularly its basketball and football teams, has a dedicated fan base, and their games often draw large crowds. The student section at games is known for being lively and enthusiastic, and the marching band adds to the game-day atmosphere. Beyond athletics, UNI offers a wide range of student activities and organizations that contribute to a vibrant campus culture and foster a sense of community and unity among students. Overall, UNI is known for having a welcoming and supportive campus culture.