Most Educated in Iowa

Top 86 cities ranked by most educated

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All Countries · United States · Iowa

Most Educated — Iowa

1 Ames 63.5%

2 Iowa City 60.7%

3 Tiffin 60.6%

4 Clive 59.5%

5 Johnston 57.9%

6 Coralville 57.3%

7 Waukee 56.7%

8 West Des Moines 54.6%

9 Eldridge 54.5%

10 Bondurant 53.6%

11 North Liberty 53.3%

12 Ankeny 53.2%

13 Urbandale 51.4%

14 Bettendorf 51.3%

15 Asbury 51.3%

16 Fairfield 51.2%

17 Cedar Falls 49.2%

18 Pella 47.8%

19 Grimes 47.6%

20 Polk City 47.2%

21 Decorah 46.1%

22 Windsor Heights 44.3%

23 Waverly 43.9%

24 Adel 43.3%

25 Orange City 42.9%

26 Grinnell 41.1%

27 Sioux Center 40.7%

28 Norwalk 40.2%

29 Marion 39.2%

30 Sergeant Bluff 38.9%

31 Dubuque 33.6%

32 DeWitt 33.6%

33 Indianola 33.5%

34 Cedar Rapids 32.9%

35 Altoona 32.6%

36 Hiawatha 32.4%

37 Pleasant Hill 32.2%

38 Spirit Lake 32.0%

39 Knoxville 31.3%

40 Nevada 30.6%

41 Davenport 30.0%

42 Clear Lake 29.7%

43 Des Moines 29.0%

44 Spencer 28.2%

45 Glenwood 27.0%

46 Oskaloosa 26.0%

47 Carroll 25.6%

48 Boone 25.0%

49 Le Mars 24.3%

50 Atlantic 24.1%

51 Independence 24.0%

52 Creston 23.9%

53 Algona 23.7%

54 Mount Pleasant 23.5%

55 Burlington 23.0%

56 Waterloo 22.6%

57 Iowa Falls 22.3%

58 Manchester 22.2%

59 Webster City 21.7%

60 Sioux City 21.7%

61 Council Bluffs 21.7%

62 Clinton 21.6%

63 Washington 21.5%

64 Mason City 21.3%

65 Winterset 21.2%

66 Muscatine 21.2%

67 Sheldon 20.9%

68 Fort Dodge 20.1%

69 Ottumwa 20.1%

70 Marshalltown 19.7%

71 Fort Madison 19.1%

72 Storm Lake 18.9%

73 Newton 18.8%

74 Denison 18.5%

75 Cherokee 18.3%

76 Anamosa 17.9%

77 Keokuk 17.4%

78 Maquoketa 17.0%

79 Oelwein 16.1%

80 Centerville 15.8%

81 Charles City 15.6%

82 Red Oak 15.4%

83 Perry 14.7%

84 Clarinda 13.7%

85 Estherville 13.2%

86 Osceola 12.4%

The most educated cities in Iowa have the highest percentages of residents with bachelor's degrees or higher. Ames leads with 63.5% of residents holding a bachelor's degree.

High education levels typically correlate with higher incomes, lower unemployment, better health outcomes, and more civic engagement. These cities often host or are adjacent to major universities and research institutions that drive both education and economic development.

Highly educated communities tend to attract knowledge-based industries and employers in technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of educational attainment and economic opportunity.

Did You Know?

1. In Ames, 63.5% of residents have a bachelor's degree — more than double the national average of about 33%.
2. Cities near major research universities consistently rank among the most educated in the country.
3. Higher education rates correlate with higher incomes, lower crime, and better health outcomes across communities.

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