Guess which 2 Iowa colleges dominate in national rankings?

The University of Iowa excels in specialized programs

According to a September 24 press release from Iowa Now, the University of Iowa has maintained its standing as a leader in several key areas:

1. Nursing: UI tied for the No. 1 spot in undergraduate nursing programs among public universities and ranked No. 4 overall when including private institutions.
2. Writing: Iowa secured the No. 9 position among all public and private universities for writing in the disciplines, maintaining its status as the top public university in this category.
3. Insurance: UI made its debut in the undergraduate insurance category at No. 8, coinciding with the recent hiring of Martin Grace to lead the Tippie College of Business’ risk management and insurance program.

Other notable rankings for UI include No. 26 in analytics, No. 27 in undergraduate business programs, and No. 46 among top public schools.

Drake University leads in value and graduation rates

A press release from Drake University on September 24 highlights the institution’s impressive performance in the national university rankings:

1. Best Value: Drake ranked #67 nationally for “Best Value School” and #1 among all Iowa schools in the national university rankings.
2. Graduation Rate: Drake secured the #1 spot in projected graduation rate among all Iowa schools in the national university rankings.
3. Student-Faculty Ratio: With a 10.1-to-1 ratio, Drake leads all Iowa schools in the national university rankings for the smallest student-to-faculty ratio.

Drake University President Marty Martin emphasized the significance of these rankings, stating, “These findings demonstrate the value and lifetime return on investment of a Drake education, which ranks among the top 3% in the nation.”

Photo courtesy of Picture Des Moines/CC BY 2.0

Overall performance

Both universities have shown strong overall performance in the U.S. News rankings:

• The University of Iowa ranked No. 98 overall and No. 46 among public universities.
• Drake University was ranked among the top 200 best colleges in the nation and named the #1 private school in Iowa within the national university rankings.

These rankings underscore Iowa’s commitment to providing high-quality education across various disciplines. From UI’s strengths in nursing and writing to Drake’s excellence in value and student outcomes, both institutions continue to set high standards in higher education, not just in Iowa but on a national scale.

The full rankings and methodology can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.