22 Best colleges for Geology 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 Geology. A graph of 2.67M citations received by 74.9K academic papers made by 22 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. Iowa State University

Ames

For Geology

#47 in the United States

#52 in North America

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

2. University of Iowa

Iowa City

For Geology

#51 in the United States

#56 in North America

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

3. University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls

For Geology

#336 in the United States

#385 in North America

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

4. Grinnell College

Grinnell

For Geology

#521 in the United States

#574 in North America

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

5. Drake University

Des Moines

For Geology

#642 in the United States

#703 in North America

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

6. Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center

Des Moines

For Geology

#792 in the United States

#859 in North America

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

7. Luther College

Decorah

For Geology

#836 in the United States

#904 in North America

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

8. Coe College

Cedar Rapids

For Geology

#920 in the United States

#989 in North America

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

9. Central College

Pella

For Geology

#922 in the United States

#991 in North America

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

10. Dordt College

Sioux Center

For Geology

#982 in the United States

#1053 in North America

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

11. Clarke University

Dubuque

For Geology

#992 in the United States

#1063 in North America

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

12. Palmer College of Chiropractic

Davenport

For Geology

#1019 in the United States

#1091 in North America

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

13. Morningside College

Sioux

For Geology

#1102 in the United States

#1177 in North America

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

14. Saint Ambrose University

Davenport

For Geology

#1146 in the United States

#1222 in North America

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

15. Maharishi University of Management

Fairfield

For Geology

#1165 in the United States

#1242 in North America

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

16. Simpson College

Indianola

For Geology

#1227 in the United States

#1304 in North America

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

17. Wartburg College

Waverly

For Geology

#1238 in the United States

#1315 in North America

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

18. Loras College

Dubuque

For Geology

#1274 in the United States

#1352 in North America

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

19. Briar Cliff University

Sioux

For Geology

#1295 in the United States

#1374 in North America

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

20. Northwestern College

Orange City

For Geology

#1309 in the United States

#1388 in North America

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

21. University of Dubuque

Dubuque

For Geology

#1341 in the United States

#1422 in North America

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

22. Buena Vista University

Storm Lake

For Geology

#1348 in the United States

#1429 in North America

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

Closest to Iowa states to learn Geology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Missouri	30	43
Wisconsin	27	8
Illinois	65	10
Minnesota	25	13
Kansas	12	55
Nebraska	12	63
Indiana	30	29
South Dakota	8	188
Michigan	29	5
Arkansas	16	130
Oklahoma	17	64
Kentucky	22	67
North Dakota	7	173
Ohio	54	18
Tennessee	30	56
Mississippi	13	114
West Virginia	15	115
Colorado	18	24
Alabama	24	94
Louisiana	22	58
Pennsylvania	90	12
Virginia	40	46
Georgia	38	39
North Carolina	38	33
Texas	70	15
South Carolina	25	86
District of Columbia	9	123
Maryland	25	21
New Mexico	8	83
Montana	8	97
New York	123	7
New Jersey	23	25
Utah	11	42
Vermont	10	128
Connecticut	20	19
Idaho	7	127
Massachusetts	63	1
New Hampshire	11	91
Rhode Island	9	61
Arizona	9	20
Florida	47	16
Maine	14	126
Nevada	7	109
Washington	29	3
Oregon	17	37
California	113	2
Puerto Rico	13	261
Alaska	4	85
Hawaii	7	70