The average graduation rate of Iowa colleges is 60.42%. It means that 60.42% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.

For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year Iowa colleges, the average graduation rate is 62.42%, which means 62.42% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.

In Iowa 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 53.86%.

For Iowa colleges, Divine Word College has the highest graduation rate of 100.00% among 4-year colleges. For Iowa community colleges, La James International College-Ft Dodge has the highest graduation rate of 100.00%.

Graduation Rate By School Level and Completion Time for Iowa Colleges

The following table compares graduation rates between Iowa colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.

For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.

Graduation Rate Comparison between Iowa Colleges
SchoolGraduation Rate
(Completers)		Transfer-out RateRetention Rate
In 100% Normal TimeIn 125% Normal TimeIn 150% Normal Time
Allen College4-Year College, private-----
Briar Cliff University4-Year College, private36.36%42.11%43.06%--
Buena Vista University4-Year College, private48.09%57.38%57.92%--
Capri College-DubuqueTrade School-----
Capri College-Cedar RapidsTrade School-----
Central College4-Year College, private67.70%71.12%71.43%28%74%
Clarke University4-Year College, private50.63%57.59%57.59%35%67%
Coe College4-Year College, private59.63%65.24%65.24%24%70%
Cornell College4-Year College, private58.89%62.37%63.41%26%80%
Des Moines Area Community CollegeCommunity College24.52%-33.90%12%63%
Divine Word College4-Year College, private100.00%-100.00%--
Dordt University4-Year College, private63.38%67.01%67.53%--
Drake University4-Year College, private68.12%74.35%75.36%--
University of Dubuque4-Year College, private30.95%37.64%39.26%35%71%
Ellsworth Community CollegeCommunity College24.29%-29.15%31%52%
Emmaus Bible College4-Year College, private45.45%52.27%52.27%--
Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictCommunity College29.43%-39.19%10%63%
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary4-Year College, private36.84%39.47%39.47%14%88%
Graceland University-Lamoni4-Year College, private38.40%47.26%48.10%--
Grand View University4-Year College, private45.67%51.64%52.24%--
Grinnell College4-Year College, private84.26%87.89%88.38%--
Orion Technical College4-Year College, private-----
Hawkeye Community CollegeCommunity College32.73%-33.12%15%55%
American Hair AcademyCommunity College28.57%-71.43%--
Indian Hills Community CollegeCommunity College31.42%-36.09%11%58%
Iowa Central Community CollegeCommunity College31.19%-37.43%17%53%
Iowa Lakes Community CollegeCommunity College33.70%-37.36%26%60%
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic TechnologyCommunity College-----
Iowa School of Beauty-Des MoinesCommunity College--66.67%--
Iowa State University4-Year College, public51.52%71.99%74.45%18%86%
Iowa Western Community CollegeCommunity College25.82%-36.06%19%66%
University of Iowa4-Year College, public55.40%71.49%73.69%18%89%
Kirkwood Community CollegeCommunity College26.56%-35.67%8%67%
La James International College-Cedar FallsCommunity College--44.44%--
La James International College-JohnstonCommunity College--65.00%--
La James College of Hairstyling and CosmetologyCommunity College71.43%-71.43%--
La James International College-Ft DodgeCommunity College40.00%-100.00%--
Loras College4-Year College, private58.28%66.87%67.79%--
Luther College4-Year College, private64.62%73.08%74.23%--
Maharishi International University4-Year College, private50.00%-50.00%--
Marshalltown Community CollegeCommunity College23.60%-35.20%14%71%
Mercy College of Health Sciences4-Year College, private37.50%-37.50%--
Morningside University4-Year College, private47.35%55.88%56.18%12%65%
Mount Mercy University4-Year College, private49.37%57.38%57.38%--
North Iowa Area Community CollegeCommunity College40.95%-54.77%9%72%
University of Northern Iowa4-Year College, public43.38%61.18%63.84%25%83%
Northwestern College4-Year College, private54.45%62.28%62.99%9%78%
Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCommunity College40.83%-48.61%8%53%
Northwest Iowa Community CollegeCommunity College59.25%-64.15%6%69%
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center4-Year College, private-----
Palmer College of Chiropractic4-Year College, private-----
PCI Academy-AmesCommunity College--94.67%--
Saint Ambrose University4-Year College, private57.84%63.13%64.02%28%79%
St Luke's College4-Year College, private-----
La James International College-DavenportCommunity College--50.00%--
Simpson College4-Year College, private62.07%65.80%66.67%--
Southeastern Community CollegeCommunity College22.89%-38.89%--
Southwestern Community CollegeCommunity College47.04%-52.17%13%66%
Capri College-DavenportTrade School-----
Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux CityCommunity College--66.67%--
SOHO Hair AcademyCommunity College72.73%-72.73%--
Upper Iowa University4-Year College, private41.40%46.24%46.24%--
Waldorf University4-Year College, private14.66%25.86%25.86%6%70%
Wartburg College4-Year College, private63.12%66.06%67.19%24%70%
Wartburg Theological Seminary4-Year College, private-----
The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar FallsTrade School-----
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeCommunity College31.48%-42.44%7%57%
William Penn University4-Year College, private22.94%29.87%29.87%5%62%
Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic TechnologyCommunity College-----
Ross College-DavenportCommunity College32.26%-61.29%--
Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit LakeTrade School-----
Carlson College of Massage TherapyTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
Aveda Institute-Des MoinesCommunity College5.88%-100.00%--
PCI Academy-Iowa CityCommunity College-----
Body Wisdom Massage Therapy SchoolTrade School-----