Iowa Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 23 Iowa colleges that have competitive admission is 78.25% for the academic year 2023-2024. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is higher by 0.41%. The acceptance rate at 9 Iowa colleges increased and the rate of 14 colleges decreased.

Grinnell College has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 13.00%. Drake University (64.00%) and Clarke University (67.99%) are following it in the list of Tightest Iowa Colleges to get in.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

Grinnell College stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Drake University ranked 2nd, up 1 place from 3rd last year.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $43,246 and graduate tuition & fees is $11,532 for the academic year 2023-2024.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.
Table. Tightest Iowa Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-
Grinnell College Grinnell, IAPrivate, 4-year 13.00%
2.24%
35.98%1,490$64,8621,75988.00%9 to 1
2
1
Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate, 4-year 64.00%
3.23%
13.00%1,280$49,9444,68576.00%10 to 1
3
11
Clarke University Dubuque, IAPrivate, 4-year 67.99%
16.81%
9.00%980$39,60096557.00%9 to 1
4
14
Dordt University Sioux Center, IAPrivate, 4-year 70.97%
16.70%
40.99%1,130$35,9601,86167.00%14 to 1
5
-
Coe College Cedar Rapids, IAPrivate, 4-year 70.99%
1.67%
6.99%1,170$52,5761,26465.00%10 to 1
6
2
Morningside University Sioux City, IAPrivate, 4-year 71.01%
0.40%
17.02%-$38,1902,24956.00%13 to 1
7
4
Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IAPrivate, 4-year 72.02%
5.25%
19.96%-$40,1901,97357.00%12 to 1
8
2
Luther College Decorah, IAPrivate, 4-year 72.99%
2.33%
19.99%1,210$50,3201,61074.00%11 to 1
8
2
Waldorf University Forest City, IAPrivate, 4-year 72.99%
0.87%
24.01%-$25,2202,76325.00%24 to 1
10
3
Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IAPrivate, 4-year 73.00%
0.92%
17.00%-$35,5982,74764.00%12 to 1
Average64.90%20.39%1,210$43,2462,18862.90%12 to 1