There are fifty-two colleges and universities in the U.S. state of Iowa that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The Iowa Board of Regents, a governing board, oversees the state's three public universities – the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa.

With 4,345 students, Drake University is the state's largest private not-for-profit school. The state's oldest post-secondary institution is Loras College, a private Catholic school in Dubuque that was founded in 1839, seven years before Iowa became a state.

The state's only two law schools, the University of Iowa College of Law and Drake University Law School, are both accredited by the American Bar Association. Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and Des Moines University are the state's two medical schools. The majority of Iowa's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National League for Nursing (NLNAC).

Extant institutions

Institution Location(s) Control Type Enrollment(fall 2024) Founded AccreditationUniversity of IowaIowa CityPublicResearch university30,7791847HLC, ACPE, ABA, ADA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CPE, CAHME, CCNE, CELPA, AANA, CEPH, JRCERT, LCME, NASD, NASM, NASTIowa State UniversityAmesPublicResearch university30,3801858HLC, AAMFT, ADA, APA, AVMA, NASMUniversity of Northern IowaCedar FallsPublic Master's university9,2781876HLC, ASHA, NASMDes Moines Area Community CollegeAnkenyPublic Associate's college23,6971966HLC, ABFSE, ADA, NLNACEastern Iowa Community CollegesDavenportPublic Associate's college7,4261965HLCEllsworth Community CollegeIowa FallsPublic Associate's college6851890HLCHawkeye Community CollegeWaterlooPublic Associate's college5,1201966HLC, ADA, APTAIndian Hills Community CollegeOttumwaPublic Associate's college3,1841969HLC, AOTA, APTA, JRCERTIowa Central Community CollegeFort DodgePublic Associate's college4,9491966HLC, ADA, JRCERT, NLNACIowa Lakes Community CollegeEsthervillePublic Associate's college1,9451967HLCIowa Western Community CollegeCouncil BluffsPublic Associate's college5,5401966HLC, NLNAC, ADAKirkwood Community CollegeCedar RapidsPublic Associate's college12,7631966HLC, ADA, AOTA, APTAMarshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltownPublic Associate's college1,8571927HLC, ADANorth Iowa Area Community CollegeMason CityPublic Associate's college2,6621918HLC, APTA, NLNACNortheast Iowa Community CollegeCalmarPublic Associate's college4,8081967HLCNorthwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldonPublic Associate's college1,9071966HLCSoutheastern Community CollegeWest BurlingtonPublic Associate's college3,0281967HLCSouthwestern Community CollegeCrestonPublic Associate's college1,5661966HLCWestern Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux CityPublic Associate's college5,4821966HLC, ADA, APTA, NLNACAllen CollegeWaterlooPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution4831925HLC, CCNE, JRCERT, NLNACBriar Cliff UniversitySioux CityPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college9471930HLC, CCNE, NLNACBuena Vista UniversityStorm LakePrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,8901891HLCCentral CollegePellaPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,0841853HLC, NASMClarke UniversityDubuquePrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college9621843HLC, APTA, CCNE, NASMCoe CollegeCedar RapidsPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,1951851HLC, CCNE, NASMCornell CollegeMount VernonPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,0941853HLCDes Moines UniversityDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1,5341898HLC, AOA, APTA, APMA, CEPHDivine Word CollegeEpworthPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution641931HLCDordt UniversitySioux CenterPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,9521955HLC, CCNEDrake UniversityDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profit Master's university4,3451881HLC, ACPE, ABA, NASAD, NASMEmmaus UniversityDubuquePrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution2341941ABHE, HLCFaith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkenyPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution6111921ABHE, HLCGraceland UniversityLamoniPrivate not-for-profit Master's university1,1021895HLC, TCATEGrand View UniversityDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university1,8561896HLC, CCNEGrinnell CollegeGrinnellPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,7881846HLCLoras CollegeDubuquePrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,1891839HLCLuther CollegeDecorahPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,3841861HLC, CCNE, NASM, TCATEMaharishi International UniversityFairfieldPrivate not-for-profit Master's university2,5921971HLCMercy College of Health SciencesDes MoinesPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution8691899HLC, APTA, CCNE, JRCERT, JRCNMT, NLNACMorningside UniversitySioux CityPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college2,0561894HLC, CCNE, NASM, TCATEMount Mercy UniversityCedar RapidsPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4171928HLC, CCNENorthwestern CollegeOrange CityPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,7051882HLC, CCNE, TCATEPalmer College of ChiropracticDavenportPrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution2,1611897HLC, CCESimpson CollegeIndianolaPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,2511860HLC, NASMSt. Ambrose UniversityDavenportPrivate not-for-profit Master's university2,4981882HLC, AOTA, APTA, CCNE, TCATESt. Luke's CollegeSioux CityPrivate not-for-profit Special-focus institution1761966HLC, JRCERT, NLNACUniversity of DubuqueDubuquePrivate not-for-profit Master's university1,7571852HLC, ATSCA, CCNEUpper Iowa UniversityFayettePrivate not-for-profit Master's university3,9411857HLC, CCNEWartburg CollegeWaverlyPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4831852HLC, NASM, NASTWartburg Theological SeminaryDubuquePrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution1611854ATSCA, HLCWilliam Penn UniversityOskaloosaPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college1,4251873HLCWaldorf UniversityForest CityPrivate for-profitBaccalaureate college2,2251903HLC

Defunct institutions

Institution Location(s) Control Founded Closed Ref(s) AIB College of Business Des Moines Private 1921 2016 Algona College Algona Private 1868 1875 Ashford University Clinton Private for-profit 1918 2016 Charles City College Charles City Private 1891 1914(merged into Morningside College) Des Moines University Des Moines Private 1865 1929 Grundy College Grundy Center, Iowa Private 1916 1934 Highland Park College Des Moines Private 1890 1918(merged with Des Moines College) Iowa Wesleyan UniversityMount PleasantPrivate not-for-profit18422023Kaplan University various Private for-profit19372018 Leander Clark College ToledoPrivate 1857 1918(merged into Coe College) Lenox College HopkintonPrivate 1859 1944 Marycrest International University Davenport Private 1939 2002 Midwestern College Denison Private 1965 1970 Ottumwa Heights College Ottumwa Private 1864 1980 Parsons College Fairfield Private 1875 1973 Sioux Empire College Hawarden Public 1965 1985 Tabor College Tabor Private 1853 1927Vatterott CollegeDes Moines Private for-profit19692018 Vennard College University Park Private 1910 2008 Westmar University Le Mars Private 1890 1997 Wilton German English College Wilton Private 1894 1904

Key

Abbreviation Accrediting agencyAAMFTAmerican Association for Marriage and Family TherapyAANAAmerican Association of Nurse AnesthetistsABAAmerican Bar AssociationABFSEAmerican Board of Funeral Service EducationABHEAssociation for Biblical Higher EducationABHESAccrediting Bureau of Health Education SchoolsACCSCAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and CollegesACICSAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and SchoolsACPEAccreditation Council for Pharmacy EducationACPEAssociation for Clinical Pastoral EducationADAAmerican Dental AssociationADAAmerican Dietetic AssociationAOAAmerican Osteopathic AssociationAOTAAmerican Occupational Therapy AssociationAPAAmerican Psychological AssociationAPMAAmerican Podiatric Medical AssociationAPTAAmerican Physical Therapy AssociationASHAAmerican Speech–Language–Hearing AssociationATSCAAssociation of Theological Schools in the United States and CanadaAVMAAmerican Veterinary Medical AssociationCAHMECommission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management EducationCCECouncil on Chiropractic EducationCCNECommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationCELPACommission on English Language Program AccreditationCEPHCouncil on Education for Public HealthJRCERTJoint Review Committee on Education Programs in Radiologic TechnologyJRCNMTJoint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine TechnologyLCMELiaison Committee on Medical EducationNASADNational Association of Schools of Art and DesignNASDNational Association of Schools of DanceNASMNational Association of Schools of MusicNASTNational Association of Schools of TheatreHLCHigher Learning CommissionNCATENational Council for Accreditation of Teacher EducationNLNACNational League for Nursing

See also

List of college athletic programs in Iowa Higher education in the United States Lists of American universities and colleges List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations

Notes

References

External links U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics listing of accredited institutions in Iowa