Nursing · Iowa
Nursing colleges in Iowa
CampusPin lists 47 U.S. colleges in Iowa that offer Nursing programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.
Nursing prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and careers as Registered Nurses, combining biomedical sciences with clinical rotations across hospital units.
Schools in Iowa that offer Nursing
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$35,534
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
829
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$40,190
Acceptance
72%
Enrollment
1,887
Clarke University
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$39,600
Acceptance
68%
Enrollment
936
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$52,576
Acceptance
71%
Enrollment
1,246
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$50,634
Acceptance
81%
Enrollment
1,076
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,550
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
10,406
Dordt University
Sioux Center, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$35,960
Acceptance
71%
Enrollment
1,781
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$49,944
Acceptance
64%
Enrollment
4,471
Eastern Iowa Community College District
Davenport, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$4,680
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,244
Ellsworth Community College
Iowa Falls, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,304
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
540
Emmaus Bible College
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$20,000
Acceptance
98%
Enrollment
183
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
Ankeny, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$19,530
Acceptance
50%
Enrollment
518
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$33,220
Acceptance
83%
Enrollment
1,194
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$33,450
Acceptance
98%
Enrollment
1,785
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,308
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
2,528
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$4,872
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,635
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,376
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,107
Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$7,196
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
995
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · University · Public
Tuition
$10,497
Acceptance
89%
Enrollment
29,878
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,780
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,029
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,980
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
7,438
Loras College
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$38,298
Acceptance
92%
Enrollment
1,170
Luther College
Decorah, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$50,320
Acceptance
73%
Enrollment
1,454
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$16,530
Acceptance
97%
Enrollment
2,663
Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,304
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
868
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$17,328
Acceptance
99%
Enrollment
907
Morningside University
Sioux City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$38,190
Acceptance
71%
Enrollment
2,147
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$39,070
Acceptance
79%
Enrollment
1,401
North Iowa Area Community College
Mason City, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,436
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,271
Northeast Iowa Community College
Calmar, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$6,600
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,736
Northwest Iowa Community College
Sheldon, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$7,110
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
856
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$18,475
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
464
Ross College-Davenport
Davenport, IA · Community College · Private
Tuition
$23,529
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
40
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$35,598
Acceptance
73%
Enrollment
2,690
Simpson College
Indianola, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$46,212
Acceptance
89%
Enrollment
1,153
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$2,600
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
821
Southwestern Community College
Creston, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,806
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
1,304
St Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$20,940
Acceptance
44%
Enrollment
192
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$40,065
Acceptance
87%
Enrollment
1,791
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · University · Public
Tuition
$10,964
Acceptance
85%
Enrollment
29,603
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · University · Public
Tuition
$9,728
Acceptance
94%
Enrollment
8,878
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$19,000
Acceptance
93%
Enrollment
2,619
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$25,220
Acceptance
73%
Enrollment
2,564
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$51,040
Acceptance
99%
Enrollment
1,464
Wartburg Theological Seminary
Dubuque, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$23,529
Acceptance
74%
Enrollment
6,134
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, IA · Community College · Public
Tuition
$5,042
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
2,589
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA · University · Private
Tuition
$28,750
Acceptance
57%
Enrollment
1,478
Nursing programs in Iowa: by the numbers
A quick comparison of the 47 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.
Schools listed
47
Public / private
19 / 28
Universities / 2-year
30 / 17
Cities represented
33
In-state tuition range
$2,600–$52,576
Median in-state tuition
$19,530
Lowest published in-state tuition
Southeastern Community College
$2,600
Most selective
St Luke's College
44% acceptance
Largest by enrollment
Iowa State University
29,878 students
Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.
What you'll study in a Nursing program
- Anatomy and physiology
- Microbiology and pharmacology
- Adult health, pediatric, maternity, mental-health, and community nursing
- Pathophysiology
- Nursing research and evidence-based practice
- Clinical leadership and management
- Health assessment and physical examination
- 700–1,000+ hours of supervised clinical rotations
Where a Nursing degree can lead
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- ICU Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
- OR / Surgical Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner (with MSN)
- Clinical Nurse Manager
Typical pay: $66,000–$95,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 registered nurses median $93,600)
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the most common entry point into Registered Nursing. Programs include 1.5–2 years of pre-nursing prerequisites (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, psychology) followed by 2 years of nursing major coursework with clinical rotations. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
The BSN is increasingly the preferred credential, many hospitals (especially Magnet-designated ones) now require it. Students starting at a community college can complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN, 2 years) and then bridge to a BSN through an RN-to-BSN program. The BLS projects 6 % growth in RN roles over the next decade, with persistent national shortages.
Nursing in other states
Find more Nursing schools
Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 47+ Nursing programs in Iowa by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.
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