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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College | Waterloo, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-Public Health, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, Doctorate | CCNE |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP-FNP | CCNE |
| Clarke University | Dubuque, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, DNP-FNP | CCNE |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | Lamoni, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, Doctorate | — |
| Grand View University | Des Moines, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA | Public | RN Diploma, ADN | — |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA | Public | BSN | — |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs, IA | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Luther College | Decorah, IA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Marshalltown Community College | Marshalltown, IA | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines, IA | Private nonprofit | ADN, BSN | — |
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.