Most Selective Iowa Colleges

Iowa has 1 four-year colleges that accept 50% or fewer of applicants, ranked from most to least selective.

Grinnell College is the hardest to get into in Iowa, accepting just 15% of 9,758 applicants.

Selectivity does not always equal academic difficulty. Some schools admit a small share of applicants because demand exceeds capacity, not because admission standards are extreme. If you need safety schools, see our highest acceptance rate colleges in Iowa. For academically demanding options, explore colleges with the highest SAT, highest ACT, and highest GPA averages.

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Iowa Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 Year
Grinnell College Campus

credit : Ron Cogswell / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Grinnell, IA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • 15% acceptance rate
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Grinnell is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for an open curriculum and undergraduate work in the sciences and social sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Grinnell.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1410-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
  • Net Price $34,363
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