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2026 Ranking

Best Colleges for Transfer Students in Iowa

Four-year colleges that welcome transfer students and graduate them on time.

Ranked
29
Page
1 / 2
Year
2026
Version
v1

How we rank →

Filter
#201

Graceland University-Lamoni

· Graceland University-Lamoni, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
79.8%
Transfer share
8.5%
Scale
3.0
#482

Saint Ambrose University

· Saint Ambrose University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
64.0%
Transfer share
8.3%
Scale
3.3
#518

University of Northern Iowa

· University of Northern Iowa, IA
Solid outcomes
Transfer completion
58.0%
Transfer share
9.9%
Scale
3.9
#554

Buena Vista University

· Buena Vista University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
60.8%
Transfer share
11.4%
Scale
3.2
#567

Mount Mercy University

· Mount Mercy University, IA
Solid outcomes
Transfer completion
60.8%
Transfer share
11.9%
Scale
3.1
#600

University of Dubuque

· University of Dubuque, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
66.0%
Transfer share
6.4%
Scale
3.2
#606

Grand View University

· Grand View University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
58.8%
Transfer share
13.0%
Scale
3.2
#638

William Penn University

· William Penn University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
59.2%
Transfer share
11.7%
Scale
3.2
#667

University of Iowa

· University of Iowa, IA
Solid outcomes
Transfer completion
60.2%
Transfer share
4.9%
Scale
4.3
#710

Briar Cliff University

· Briar Cliff University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
61.8%
Transfer share
9.4%
Scale
2.9
#716

Grinnell College

· Grinnell College, IA
Solid outcomes
Transfer completion
75.0%
Transfer share
0.5%
Scale
3.2
#752

Loras College

· Loras College, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
68.3%
Transfer share
4.2%
Scale
3.1
#778

Cornell College

· Cornell College, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
70.0%
Transfer share
3.4%
Scale
3.0
#793

Upper Iowa University

· Upper Iowa University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
56.2%
Transfer share
9.6%
Scale
3.4
#862

Clarke University

· Clarke University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
57.0%
Transfer share
11.4%
Scale
2.9
#877

Iowa State University

· Iowa State University, IA
Solid outcomes
Transfer completion
55.7%
Transfer share
4.9%
Scale
4.4
#1027

Coe College

· Coe College, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
62.3%
Transfer share
3.1%
Scale
3.1
#1206

Waldorf University

· Waldorf University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
45.3%
Transfer share
10.4%
Scale
3.3
#1293

Simpson College

· Simpson College, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
54.7%
Transfer share
4.5%
Scale
3.1
#1312

Drake University

· Drake University, IA
Solid outcomes
Transfer completion
50.8%
Transfer share
4.4%
Scale
3.4
#1537

Central College

· Central College, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
51.8%
Transfer share
2.5%
Scale
3.0
#1555

Morningside University

· Morningside University, IA
Mixed outcomes
Transfer completion
44.3%
Transfer share
6.3%
Scale
3.1
How we score — methodology (v1) ▾
Eligibility

Four-year institutions with an IPEDS transfer-student completion rate and ≥500 undergraduates.

Score weights
60%
25%
15%
Transfer Student Completion Rate 60%
Transfer Share 25%
Log Scale 15%