31 Best Computer Science schools in Iowa State

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Iowa State ranked based on their research performance in Computer Science. A graph of 4.8M citations received by 138K academic papers made by 31 universities in Iowa State was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Iowa

Iowa City

For Computer Science

#50 in the United States

#56 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

2. Iowa State University

Ames

For Computer Science

#57 in the United States

#67 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

3. University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls

For Computer Science

#340 in the United States

#381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 84%

4. Drake University

Des Moines

For Computer Science

#444 in the United States

#492 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,565

5. Grinnell College

Grinnell

For Computer Science

#586 in the United States

#640 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,363

6. Maharishi University of Management

Fairfield

For Computer Science

#855 in the United States

#923 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $16,281
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $11,496

7. Clarke University

Dubuque

For Computer Science

#857 in the United States

#925 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $26,725

8. Luther College

Decorah

For Computer Science

#907 in the United States

#978 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1242
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,511

9. Saint Ambrose University

Davenport

For Computer Science

#932 in the United States

#1004 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $25,345

10. Palmer College of Chiropractic

Davenport

For Computer Science

#955 in the United States

#1028 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Net Price: $23,515
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,420

11. Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center

Des Moines

For Computer Science

#994 in the United States

#1067 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 1,534
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1898

12. Coe College

Cedar Rapids

For Computer Science

#1003 in the United States

#1076 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $20,864

13. Morningside College

Sioux

For Computer Science

#1031 in the United States

#1105 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $24,437
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,397

14. Dordt College

Sioux Center

For Computer Science

#1111 in the United States

#1186 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,486

15. Briar Cliff University

Sioux

For Computer Science

#1154 in the United States

#1229 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,263
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,425

16. Waldorf University

Forest City

For Computer Science

#1165 in the United States

#1240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $19,766
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $20,127

17. Wartburg College

Waverly

For Computer Science

#1201 in the United States

#1276 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,031

18. Graceland University - Lamoni

Lamoni

For Computer Science

#1212 in the United States

#1287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $19,574
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,754

19. William Penn University

Oskaloosa

For Computer Science

#1282 in the United States

#1357 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 995
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $22,740

20. Loras College

Dubuque

For Computer Science

#1284 in the United States

#1359 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $21,631
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,835

21. Simpson College

Indianola

For Computer Science

#1286 in the United States

#1361 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $23,282
Receiving Aid: 100%

22. Northwestern College

Orange City

For Computer Science

#1290 in the United States

#1365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $26,347
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,537

23. Upper Iowa University

Fayette

For Computer Science

#1314 in the United States

#1390 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $20,426
Receiving Aid: 98%

24. Central College

Pella

For Computer Science

#1320 in the United States

#1396 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $23,848

25. Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids

For Computer Science

#1346 in the United States

#1424 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $24,347
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,735

26. Buena Vista University

Storm Lake

For Computer Science

#1385 in the United States

#1464 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,704
Receiving Aid: 100%

27. University of Dubuque

Dubuque

For Computer Science

#1402 in the United States

#1482 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $26,067

28. Allen College

Waterloo

For Computer Science

#1536 in the United States

#1619 in North America

Net Price: $31,509
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,625
Enrollment: 483

29. Grand View University

Des Moines

For Computer Science

#1571 in the United States

#1657 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $22,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,330

30. Divine Word College

Epworth

For Computer Science

#1611 in the United States

#1697 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $3,083
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,417

31. Wartburg Theological Seminary

Dubuque

For Computer Science

#1613 in the United States

#1699 in North America

Enrollment: 161
Male:Female: 44:56

Closest to Iowa states to learn Computer Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Missouri	36	34
Wisconsin	33	16
Illinois	76	9
Minnesota	28	19
Kansas	15	90
Nebraska	13	104
Indiana	35	32
South Dakota	8	320
Michigan	39	5
Arkansas	18	152
Oklahoma	19	111
Kentucky	26	64
North Dakota	8	193
Ohio	62	24
Tennessee	37	51
Mississippi	14	155
West Virginia	19	120
Colorado	21	46
Alabama	25	81
Louisiana	25	76
Pennsylvania	103	12
Virginia	42	43
Georgia	48	25
North Carolina	46	29
Texas	79	17
South Carolina	28	95
District of Columbia	11	89
Maryland	28	8
New Mexico	9	99
Montana	8	192
New York	137	11
Delaware	4	92
New Jersey	29	23
Utah	11	45
Vermont	12	135
Connecticut	21	15
Idaho	7	194
Massachusetts	71	2
New Hampshire	12	88
Rhode Island	9	59
Arizona	10	39
Florida	65	30
Maine	14	225
Nevada	7	148
Washington	33	6
Oregon	18	84
California	137	1
Puerto Rico	15	382
Alaska	4	271
Hawaii	7	132