Iowa doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 20 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 20 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Grinnell came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Iowa For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Iowa's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Grinnell College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,729 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,505 |
| Median rent | $895 |
| Graduation rate | 83% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $83,440 |
Grinnell is home to Grinnell College. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $895 a month, and the average cost to attend is $83,440 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Iowa |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 22,264 (29 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 75,752 |
| Median rent | $1,094 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,596 |
Iowa City is home to University of Iowa. There are 29 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,094 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,596 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Maharishi International University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 922 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,456 |
| Median rent | $870 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,892 |
Fairfield is home to Maharishi International University. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $870 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,892 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | William Penn University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,301 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,504 |
| Median rent | $831 |
| Graduation rate | 41% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $42,874 |
Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $831 a month, and the average cost to attend is $42,874 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Iowa State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 25,367 (37 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 67,669 |
| Median rent | $1,023 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,018 |
Ames is home to Iowa State University. There are 37 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,023 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,018 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Luther College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,379 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,535 |
| Median rent | $853 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $65,461 |
Decorah is home to Luther College. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $853 a month, and the average cost to attend is $65,461 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Northern Iowa |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,529 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 40,888 |
| Median rent | $1,203 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,278 |
Cedar Falls is home to University of Northern Iowa. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,203 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,278 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Central College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,070 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 10,720 |
| Median rent | $1,046 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $37,773 |
Pella is home to Central College. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,046 a month, and the average cost to attend is $37,773 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northwestern College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,175 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 6,426 |
| Median rent | $789 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $49,783 |
Orange City is home to Northwestern College. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $789 a month, and the average cost to attend is $49,783 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Drake University, Grand View University, Mercy College of Health Sciences |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,896 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 212,421 |
| Median rent | $1,090 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $49,252 |
Des Moines is home to Drake University, Grand View University, Mercy College of Health Sciences. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,090 a month, and the average cost to attend is $49,252 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 20 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Iowa
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 20 towns in Iowa that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Iowa.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Iowa.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Iowa
If you're looking for the best college towns in Iowa, Grinnell is where to start.
The best college towns in Iowa are Grinnell, Iowa City, Fairfield, Oskaloosa, Ames, Decorah, Cedar Falls, Pella, Orange City, and Des Moines.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Iowa for 2026?
Grinnell is the best college town in Iowa for 2026, followed by Iowa City and Fairfield.
How did you rank the best college towns in Iowa?
We looked at every town in Iowa with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Iowa?
Dubuque ranks last of the 20 college towns we ranked in Iowa for 2026.
Best College Towns In Iowa For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinnell, IA | 9,505 | 1,729 | $895 |
| 2 | Iowa City, IA | 75,752 | 22,264 | $1,094 |
| 3 | Fairfield, IA | 9,456 | 922 | $870 |
| 4 | Oskaloosa, IA | 11,504 | 1,301 | $831 |
| 5 | Ames, IA | 67,669 | 25,367 | $1,023 |
| 6 | Decorah, IA | 7,535 | 1,379 | $853 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls, IA | 40,888 | 7,529 | $1,203 |
| 8 | Pella, IA | 10,720 | 1,070 | $1,046 |
| 9 | Orange City, IA | 6,426 | 1,175 | $789 |
| 10 | Des Moines, IA | 212,421 | 4,896 | $1,090 |
| 11 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 137,264 | 2,271 | $967 |
| 12 | Storm Lake, IA | 11,428 | 1,366 | $898 |
| 13 | Ankeny, IA | 72,615 | 405 | $1,319 |
| 14 | Indianola, IA | 16,044 | 1,227 | $986 |
| 15 | Waverly, IA | 10,494 | 1,452 | $1,057 |
| 16 | Waterloo, IA | 67,008 | 261 | $923 |
| 17 | Sioux City, IA | 86,101 | 1,954 | $976 |
| 18 | West Des Moines, IA | 71,083 | 0 | $1,237 |
| 19 | Davenport, IA | 100,913 | 2,000 | $978 |
| 20 | Dubuque, IA | 59,174 | 3,489 | $948 |
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