Top Nursing Schools in Iowa
This page lists 35 schools in Iowa that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 15 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 18 associate degree (ADN), 19 bachelor's (BSN), 6 master's and 4 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 18 public and 17 private nonprofit. 18 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Sioux City (4), Cedar Rapids (3), Davenport (2) and Des Moines (2).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (35)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-FNP, Doctorate | CCNE, ACEN |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-Leadership, DNP-FNP | CCNE |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | Sheldon, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Northwestern College | Orange City, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| St Luke's College | Sioux City, IA | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN | — |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | Public | BSN, MSN, MSN-CNL, MSN-Leadership, Post-Master's, PhD, PhD-CRNA, PhD-FNP, PhD-Leadership, PhD-PMHNP | CCNE |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | — |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
Before you apply in Iowa
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Iowa. See online coursework and clinical requirements.