Colleges in Iowa: acceptance rates and selectivity

21 colleges in Iowa, sorted from most to least selective. The hardest to get into is Grinnell College at 15%. Open any school for its full profile, or calculate your odds with CollegeCalcAI.

Schools covered

Iowa

Most selective

15%

Grinnell College

Average acceptance

75%

across listed schools

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CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.

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Hardest colleges in Iowa, ranked

Your chances at Iowa colleges

Estimated chance of admission for three typical students, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA; 2, 4 and 7 AP courses respectively; Regular Decision; no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook.

Which colleges in Iowa can I get into with a 3.7 GPA and a 1300 SAT?

By CollegeCalcAI's model, a student with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1300 SAT has a Likely or Safety estimate (45% or higher) at 20 of the 21 colleges here, including William Penn University, Drake University and Coe College. The other 1 is a Reach. Estimates assume Regular Decision and no hook; courses, activities and essays move them.

Estimated admission chance for three student profiles at each college: 3.3 GPA, 1150 SAT; 3.7 GPA, 1300 SAT; 4.0 GPA, 1500 SAT
College	3.3 GPA1150 SAT	3.7 GPA1300 SAT	4.0 GPA1500 SAT
Grinnell Collegeadmits 15%	11%Reach	18%Reach	32%Target
William Penn Universityadmits 52%	77%Safety	93%Safety	97%Safety
Drake Universityadmits 64%	77%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Coe Collegeadmits 64%	84%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Briar Cliff Universityadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Dordt Universityadmits 68%	88%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Morningside Universityadmits 71%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Luther Collegeadmits 72%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Clarke Universityadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
St. Ambrose Universityadmits 77%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Waldorf Universityadmits 77%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Cornell Collegeadmits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northwestern College (IA)admits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Graceland Universityadmits 81%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Mount Mercy Universityadmits 83%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Iowaadmits 84%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Iowa State Universityadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Northern Iowaadmits 93%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Upper Iowa Universityadmits 96%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Grand View Universityadmits 99%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Loras Collegeadmits 100%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety