Universities and Colleges in Iowa - A-Z List of Universities and Colleges in Iowa: Check out the A - Z List containing the names of all of the Colleges in Iowa, the Hawkeye State, which provide access to interesting facts about the top Private, Public, Junior and Christian schools available in the state. Major cities in Iowa include Des Moines, 206,688; Cedar Rapids, 128,119; Davenport, 101,363; Sioux City, 82,719; Iowa City, 70,192; Waterloo, 68,297; Council Bluffs, 62,115; Ames, 60,634; West Des Moines, 59,296.

Universities and Colleges in Iowa: Colleges in Iowa are in no way inferior to universities, the difference is that colleges tend to be smaller than universities and usually provide under graduate degrees, whereas larger universities in Iowa also provide the option for graduate degrees.

Cost of Colleges in Iowa: The cost of colleges in Iowa vary considerably and an important consideration in the choice of college. The basic Tuition fees are detailed in the college and university catalogs but the financial cost of higher education must include calculations related to the additional costs of housing, food, travel expenses, books and any necessary equipment. When calculating the cost of colleges in Iowa it is also important to remember that many colleges and universities in Iowa increase their tuition costs on a yearly basis.

Colleges in Iowa - Housing considerations: When considering housing it is necessary to weigh up the advantages of off-campus and on-campus accommodation. Check out the price differences of rooms, availability and whether it would be acceptable to share a room or live in a dormitory. It is also necessary to take into account the cost of travel expenses if choosing the option to live off campus in Iowa. 

Location of Top Colleges in Iowa: The location of the college or university is an important consideration for all students and it is important to decide whether a quiet rural setting in the countryside is preferable to living in an urban environment with the hustle and bustle of city life. For many students attending college or university provides the option for living away from home, although this provides independence for the first time, many students might experience homesickness.

Colleges in Iowa - Climate: The climate of the state of Iowa is another feature to consider when choosing a center for higher education from all of the United States. Take into account the seasonal changes in Iowa, the average temperatures across the year, the number of days with precipitation and the number of days with sunshine. Geographic features should also be considered such as beaches, mountains and deserts as is the possibility of heat waves or extreme weather possibilities such a tornadoes, snow storms and floods.

City Based Campuses of Universities and Colleges in Iowa: City based campuses in Iowa offer a lively student lifestyle with opportunities for experiencing the historical and cultural elements of a city which is useful for students who require easy access to art galleries and museums. A city school also enables students to enjoy the entertainment facilities available to city dwellers such as the theater. The state capital of Iowa is Des Moines.

Rural Based Campuses of Universities and Colleges in Iowa: Rural based campuses are naturally quieter appealing to students who are used to this type of lifestyle. The rural colleges in Iowa tend to have far less distractions in a study centered environment.

The Size of Universities and Colleges in Iowa: The size of a college or university should also be taken into account as there are vast differences in the size of campuses. The smallest schools might take about 300 students whereas the large universities might have enrolment numbers of over 60,000 students.

Social Life of Top Colleges in Iowa - Sports: The social life of colleges in Iowa vary but most of the best schools offer a wide range of sports, social and cultural extracurricular activities in addition to the academic courses and programs. These provide opportunities to participate in sporting activities and joining, for example, soccer or athletic teams. Non sporting participants take great pleasure in attending college sporting events and supporting their college teams. Most of the top schools have their own mascots and are associated with two college colors reflected in uniforms and as a form of identity when the school competes in sports and other intercollegiate activities. Sports offered at the top universities and colleges in Iowa might include baseball, cross-country running, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field athletics and volleyball.

Top Colleges in Iowa - Extracurricular Activities: Other extracurricular activities for students might include drama, dance, bands and orchestras, debating societies, academic clubs, theater, working with the campus radio, television station or film productions. Other students enjoy the opportunity of producing the student newspaper or a literary magazine. Others become involved in student government.

Colleges in Iowa - Sororities and Fraternities: The Higher education in the United States, including the state of Iowa, features a unique system in campus life called the Greek System which offers students the opportunity to join the best social, academic and philanthropic organizations at colleges and universities called Sororities (female) and Fraternities (male).

Colleges in Iowa Academic Calendar: The United States academic year generally runs from the beginning of September until the end of May, although some Colleges in Iowa offer optional 6 to 8 week summer terms to enable students to finish their degrees in a shorter period. The two main 18 week terms are called semesters although some Colleges in Iowa have 12 week trimesters or quarters.

Colleges in Iowa - Admission Systems: The admissions systems of the Colleges in Iowa are used to assess the suitability of students and determine their potential for success at their schools.  Admission systems in the universities and colleges in Iowa use SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) and ACT (American College Testing assessment) scores, together with extracurricular activities undertaken by students, their hobbies, work experience, recommendation letters and volunteer work, to assess their suitability for higher education at their schools.

Colleges in Iowa - Major and Minor: A major is the choice of study in which students want  to concentrate. A minor is a subject that students choose as their second concentration of courses offered at the universities and colleges in Iowa. Honors programs are often embarked upon by students who achieve high grades.

Major Fields of study in Colleges and Universities in Iowa: The major fields of study in Colleges and Universities in Iowa are Education, Law, Agriculture, Engineering, Sciences, English & Literature, Visual & Performing Arts, Ethnic Studies, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Military Science, Parks & Recreation, Engineering-Related Technology, Philosophy, Religion & Theology, Public Affairs, Law and Social Sciences.

Colleges in Iowa - Liberal Arts: The best Liberal Art colleges in Iowa offer a broad base of courses in subjects such as literature, history, math, languages and life sciences. Most of the top Liberal Art colleges in Iowa are private and offer  4 year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree (BA). Liberal arts colleges colleges prepare students for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

Colleges in Iowa - Art Colleges and Conservatories: The Art colleges and conservatories in Iowa focus on the arts providing training in specialized areas such as music, photography, theater or fashion design. Most of the best Art colleges and conservatories offer associate or bachelor's degrees in the fine arts or an associated specialized field.

Colleges in Iowa - Accreditation: The universities and colleges in Iowa, the Hawkeye State, receive approval by nationally recognized regional accrediting organizations or professional associations. For students intending to transfer from a top 2 year junior college to a top 4 year college it is necessary to ensure recognition for the first two years of study.

Colleges and Universities: The articles about the colleges and universities in Iowa and their requirements provide some interesting facts to help students and their parents decide what makes a school special with useful information that will enable you to balance academics, student lifestyle and affordability of schools in Iowa, the Hawkeye State. Compare your choices with the most popular universities and colleges in the state, such as Iowa University, Iowa College, Iowa Community College, Drake University, Grinnell College, Luther College, Coe College, Cornell College and Loras College.