Iowa is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The land was acquired, during the Louisiana Purchase, and the state was admitted into the Union in 1846. It is bordered by three rivers; the Mississippi River, the Missouri River, and the Big Sioux River. If you are looking to pursue a degree in the Hawkeye State, here are the safest colleges to consider.
For the sake of this list , a “college” is considered any accredited public or private not-for-profit institution that offers four-year degree programs. Campus crime stats, graduation rates, and student retention rates were taken from U.S. Department of Education annual reports. Campus crime rates are based on the number of crimes per 1,000 residents.
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#1 Northwestern College – Iowa
Located on the northwestern side of the state in Orange City, Iowa, Northwestern College is a private liberal arts college. The school is associated with the Reformed Church and provides a Christian faith-based education. At the safest college in Iowa, the acceptance rate is 76%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#2 Mount Mercy University
A Catholic liberal arts school, Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and was founded in 1928. For students who enjoy the outdoors, the school is located near the Cedar River. Mount Mercy has a 13:1 student to faculty ratio and a 70% acceptance rate. The campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#3 Clarke University
Clarke University is a liberal arts college associated with the Roman Catholic Church. It is located in Dubuque, Iowa and was founded in 1843. The school boasts over 30 undergraduate programs and six graduate programs. Clarke University has a 78% acceptance rate, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#4 Central College
Central College was established in 1853 and is a private liberal arts college associated with the Reformed Church. It is located in Pella, Iowa. The school is accredited by the North Central Association and has 1,411 undergraduate students. The acceptance rate is 69%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#5 University of Northern Iowa
Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa is a public university that was established in 1876. The school has over 90 undergraduate majors, but it is known for its teaching program. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The acceptance rate at the University of Northern Iowa is 77%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#6 Luther College
Located in Decorah, Iowa, Luther College is a private liberal arts school that was founded in 1861. The school is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church. For students looking to travel, Luther College offers study abroad opportunities in 41 countries. The school has 2,421 undergraduate students and a 72 % acceptance rate. The campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#7 Morningside College
A private liberal arts college in Sious City, Iowa, Morningside College was founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, and it is still affiliated with the United Methodist Church today. The school provides 100% of undergraduates with some form of financial aid. As one of the safest colleges in Iowa, Morningside College has a campus crime rate of o per 1000.
#8 Iowa State University
Iowa State University is a public research university located in Ames, Iowa. The school was founded in 1858 as Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. In 1959, the school received its current named, Iowa State University. The school has 24,209 undergraduate students and a 85% acceptance rate. The campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#9 Simpson College
Located in Indianola, Iowa, Simpson college is a private liberal arts college that is accredited by the North Central Association. The school is associated with the United Methodist Church. It boasts a 13:1 student to faculty ratio with 97 full time faculty members. The acceptance rate at Simpson College is 88%, and the campus crime rate is o per 1000.
#10 Grand View University
A college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Grand View University is a private liberal arts college in Des Moines, Iowa, which is the capital of the state. For students who enjoy the outdoors, Grand View University is located near the Des Moines River. The acceptance rate here is 95%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#11 William Penn University
Located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, William Penn University is a private liberal arts school founded in 1873 by the Quakers who moved into Iowa from the East coast. Today, the campus is located on 75 acres of land. The school is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. William Penn University has 1,506 undergraduates and a campus crime rate of 0 per 1000.
#12 Wartburg College
Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wartburg College is a private liberal arts college established in 1852. The college is located in Waverly, Iowa, and it is near the Cedar River. Waverly College has a 12:1 student to faculty ratio with a total of 110 full time faculty members. The acceptance rate here is 78%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#13 Coe College
Founded in 1851, Coe College is a private liberal arts school that is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The school awards both undergraduate and graduate degrees and the most popular degree is Business Administration and Management. The school has 1,304 undergraduate students, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#14 Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a private college that is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The school was founded in 1891 and is located in Storm Lake, Iowa. For students who enjoy the outdoors, Buena Vista University is located on Storm Lake. The school has a 70% acceptance rate, and it has a campus crime rate of 0 per 1000.
#15 Drake University
Located in Iowa’s capital, Des Moines, Drake University is a private college established in 1881. The school offers a 12:1 student to faculty ratio and 283 full time faculty members. Law and Pharmacy Studies are the most popular majors at Drake University, but the school offers 83 different programs. The acceptance rate is 65%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#16 Waldorf College
Located in Forest City, Iowa, Waldorf College is a private liberal arts school established in 1903. Waldorf is a small college that offers 21 majors, with the most popular being Fire Service Administration. The school has 47 full time faculty members and 926 undergraduate students. The campus crime rate at Waldorf College is 1 per 1000.
#17 Cornell College
A private liberal arts college, Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, which is on the east side of the state and less than an hour from the Mississippi River. The school was founded in 1853 and is associated with the United Methodist Church. Cornell College has a 12:1 student to faculty ratio, and the campus crime rate is 1 per 1000.
#18 Loras College
Located in Dubuque, Iowa, Loras College is a private Catholic school that was founded in 1839. For students looking for a beautiful campus environment, the school is located near the Mississippi River. Loras College has 1,447 undergraduate students and 40 graduate students. The acceptance rate here is 69%, and the campus crime rate is 1 per 1000.
#19 University of Iowa
As Iowa’s oldest university, the University of Iowa is a public institution that was founded in 1847. The school is located in Iowa City, Iowa and has 19,639 students. It has a 16:1 student to faculty ratio with 1,332 full time faculty members. The acceptance rate is 80%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
#20 Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts school that was established in 1846. The school is located in Grinnell, Iowa, which is within driving distance of both Des Moines and Iowa City. The student to faculty ratio is only 9:1, and the total full time faculty is 183. The most popular major is Economics and Econometrics. The campus crime rate is 1 per 1000.
#21 University of Dubuque
Located in Dubuque, Iowa, which is in eastern Iowa near the Mississippi River, the University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian college that was founded in 1852. For student who enjoy traveling, the University of Dubuque provides over 110 study abroad programs in more than 25 countries. The school has a campus crime rate of 0 per 1000.
#22 Briar Cliff University
Briar Cliff University is a private liberal arts college that is associated with the Roman Catholic Church. The school is found in Sioux City, Iowa, and was established in 1930. The school has a 13:1 student to faculty ratio with 63 full time faculty members. The most popular major is registered nursing, and the campus crime rate is 1 per 1000.
#23 St. Ambrose University
Located in Davenport, Iowa, Saint Ambrose University is a private liberal arts school that was founded in 1882. The school is associated with the Roman Catholic Church. It has 2,419 undergraduate students and 877 graduate students. The acceptance rate at Saint Ambrose University is 96%, and the campus crime rate is 0 per 1000.
