Iowa universities see US News & World Report rankings rise

The University of Northern Iowa has taken the top spot in the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of public regional universities in the Midwest, joined by other public and private Iowa institutions that saw their rankings in the 2027 report climb.

The Cedar Falls university attributed its graduation rates and “graduation rate performance” to the new ranking in a Tuesday news release, stating that they are two of the “most heavily weighted criteria” of the 17 factors U.S. News & World Report uses in determining its Best Colleges rankings.

“The University of Northern Iowa is honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for our ongoing dedication to student success, our outstanding graduation rates and the exceptional value we offer to families across the Midwest,” said UNI Director of University Relations Pete Moris in the release.

“Significant methodology changes” were introduced by U.S. News this year as concerns persist about the affordability and value of a college degree, the media company stated in an article announcing the rankings, including replacing its “graduate indebtedness factor” with “earnings by major,” which covers earnings of people four years after earning their degree.

“With families increasingly scrutinizing the true cost and return on investment of a college degree, our goal is to provide clear, actionable data,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, in the article. “The 2027 Best Colleges rankings serve as a vital decision-making tool for prospective students and parents, offering transparent metrics on outcomes, affordability and academic quality to help families make fully informed financial and educational investments.”

UNI tied for 13th place in the rankings of all Midwest regional universities and for 6th place in best value for in-state students, according to the rankings. The university stated in the release its four-year graduation rate is 25 percentage-points higher than its national peers, and average student debt falls below state and national averages.

The University of Iowa made it back into the top 100 national universities after falling to #102 in 2026, now tying at spot 100 with eight other universities across the U.S. The UI is the highest-ranked Iowa institution on the national universities list, followed by Iowa State University at #116 and Drake University at #191.

In the top public schools ranking, the UI took 46th place and ISU came in at #55.

Other top rankings for the UI include fourth in undergraduate nursing programs, eighth in insurance and 10th in “writing in the disciplines.” The university stated in a press release it “continues to build upon its strength in writing to support communication excellence across campus,” through initiatives like the Office of Writing and Communication and the “Writing Enriched Curriculum” pilot program to identify field-specific writing skills to instill in students.

“Iowa gives students access to nationally recognized programs in writing, health care, and business, along with the support they need to succeed,” said Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost, in the release. “Expanding writing across disciplines advances our academic mission, encourages innovation in teaching, and creates new ways to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.”

Iowa’s private colleges and universities also made it into the rankings, with Dordt University tying for sixth place for regional universities in the Midwest — a drop of one spot from last year. It is followed by UNI at #12 and St. Ambrose University at #32, with other Iowa institutions ranked below #50.

Grinnell College saw the highest ranking of Iowa liberal arts colleges on the national list, tied at #16 with two other colleges. No other Iowa colleges crack the top 100, the next highest being Luther College, tied at #111.

Wartburg College beat other Iowa colleges in its seventh-place ranking of Midwest regional colleges, with Simpson College in eighth place and Loras College in 10th.

“This recognition reflects the collaborative work happening across campus to help all our students thrive both on campus and after graduation,” said Wartburg College President Rebecca Ehretsman in a news release. “We continue to invest in the academic opportunities, relationships and experiences central to a Wartburg education. Our outstanding faculty and staff have sharpened their focus on student retention and strengthened the ways they identify and respond to students who may need additional support.”