2023 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Iowa

• Grinnell, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  434 reviews

Freshman: Grinnell has a whole has been an incredible experience so far. The people are absolutely incredible, the campus is wonderful, and the academics are very strong with all things considered about the pandemic. Grinnell truly feels like home and it is a place where I feel that the other students and teachers truly care about you. The administration is definitely not perfect but I am 100% happy with choice to attend Grinnell!... Read 434 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $32,091

• SAT range 1370-1540

• Decorah, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  755 reviews

Alum: Luther College is nestled in beautiful Decorah, Iowa. The campus is absolutely wonderful! Buildings are all easy to get to and kept up wonderfully. It is a smaller college and teachers/ professors are able to get to know their students and make connections with them. You get up-to-date technology and a top-of-the-line education but you also feel safe, secure, and like you are more than just a number or a tuition payment. I transferred in my Junior year and they worked well with my Community college. Due to my excellent grades, I was able to obtain scholarships and pay less for two years at Luther than I would have had to pay for one year without scholarships. I was also easily able to transfer some credits into my Graduate program so that I could take the Advanced standing MSW degree. I would highly recommend Luther College! Decorah has so much to offer and the scenery is breathtaking!... Read 755 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 64%

• Net price $25,291

• SAT range 1030-1280

• Pella, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  450 reviews

Niche User: I love the visit! It honestly feels like home. The professors are very knowledgeable and confident about what they teach. In addition, the student life is fantastic because it is so easy to make friends and to adjust to student life. Another reason is that the faculty/admissions is supporting and willing to help any student. They take you step by step through financial and academic help. I cannot wait to adapt to the new student life in 2020, to make new friends, and pursue my academic career.... Read 450 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 64%

• Net price $21,690

• SAT range 980-1230

• Mount Vernon, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.39 out of 5  740 reviews

Sophomore: I am from San Francisco, and it was a very big change going from California to Iowa but Cornell College really made it feel easy, except for the snow and the cold! I love most of the professors and they are all very dedicated to their subjects and classes. The campus is gorgeous and very nice, if not a bit hilly. The main hub of campus, Thomas Commons, is a nice place to relax every once in a while when I don’t want to go to my dorm room or just want a place to sit for a bit. I like the sense of comfort I have when walking around campus and the student body, a feeling probably started by our incredibly kind President Brand. While the upperclassmen dorms are a bit rough, they’re okay and livable (sometimes, hahaha). Overall there is little I’d change; I really do feel supported here both as a person and as a student.... Read 740 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $25,028

• SAT range 1060-1280

• Waverly, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  626 reviews

Alum: My experience at Wartburg positively changed who I was as a person primarily because of the community and amount of support that faculty and staff put into their students: the effort you put in you truly receive in return! I had multiple opportunities to put a part of something that I truly felt I belonged in: choirs, work studies, clubs/organizations, connecting with alumni and prospective students, so many second families I cherish. I was also a part of the COVID student population, and while that was a trying time for us all, I always felt safe and reassured by the efforts Wartburg made to make sure we could return to normalcy as quickly as possible while following guidelines. If I had the chance to go back to college and redo my undergraduate degree, I would absolutely choose Wartburg again and again for the people, the experiences, and the love that Wartburg showed me and I show back now!... Read 626 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $23,248

• SAT range 970-1200

• Cedar Rapids, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  511 reviews

Junior: I am Currently going into my junior year at Coe and I have had an amazing time here. Despite us being in a pandemic Coe has managed to give it's students the college experience while still keeping everyone safe. If you are someone who want's to go to a school to be involved and make real change in a community, Coe is the place for you. Having a small campus has it's benefits, almost every student is involved in either a club, organization or sport making the community feel like home. It also benefits our student body because we all have really good opportunities to network, get internships, do research or study abroad. I personally am working two internships I got through Coe and I will be studying abroad next year in Korea. The only downside to Coe is the slight lack of diversity, Coe is a predominantly White Institution which can make students coming from diverse neighborhoods struggle to find their place at times.... Read 511 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $21,155

• SAT range 1080-1300

• Indianola, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  353 reviews

Freshman: Simpson College has a very welcoming community. They respect the student body and give students a chance to take their education to a new level. There are lots of opportunities to make a name for yourself at Simpson, and the faculty are super helpful. Each professor cares about each individual student and wants to see them exceed. The school spirit is magnificent at Simpson College. Every student cares about one another and everyone's accomplishments. The Simpson College campus is extremely well taken care of and over all beautiful. Simpson College has a unique feel of home, where each student's education and experiences are taken seriously by everybody. There are a wide-range of clubs, organisations, and religions that every student can feel a part of and included in. There are many outside resources that Simpson provides to all students such as counseling, health services, tutoring, advising, and many more.... Read 353 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 87%

• Net price $20,457

• SAT range 1070-1200

• Dubuque, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  431 reviews

Freshman: I have loved it here! University of Dubuque is beautiful and the workers work hard to keep it clean and well kept. Also, the professors and students are all friendly and wants to see everyone succeed. The University also incorporates God's word in the teachings. God is an important aspect in the community and school. Everyone there wants to see the students succeed and thrive.... Read 431 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $27,043

• SAT range 840-1070

• Oskaloosa, IA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  171 reviews

Freshman: This is my second semester as a freshman. I am an only child from Texas. I didn't think I would make it past the first two weeks being four states away from my family. But now this school is my second family. It is a small private university so it is very tight-knit. Everyone, including the staff is so friendly and so willing to help. I knew I would never fit into a large university. So this was a perfect fit for me to be able to pursue my studies and for me to have an opportunity to play volleyball at a collegiate level. This school for its size offers so many sports so there are so many opportunities for so many athletes.... Read 171 reviews

• grade C minus

• Acceptance rate 55%

• Net price $21,256

• SAT range 880-1060