RANKING · 2024 ACS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Fewest graduate degrees, Iowa cities

Iowa cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2024 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 8.6%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Atlantic, IA, up 34 places to #15.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01▲6Charles City, IAIA7,0133.0%−0.7 pts

02Centerville, IAIA5,3273.2%−0.6 pts

03▲3Fort Madison, IAIA9,9353.7%−0.2 pts

04▲15Estherville, IAIA5,8074.0%0.0 pts

05▲27Le Mars, IAIA10,7604.5%+0.2 pts

06▲14Red Oak, IAIA5,3884.5%+0.7 pts

07▼4Denison, IAIA8,2144.6%+1.4 pts

08▼3Keokuk, IAIA9,5104.6%+0.2 pts

09▲2Clarinda, IAIA5,2734.7%−1.0 pts

10▲3Sheldon, IAIA5,5755.1%+1.0 pts

11▼3Maquoketa, IAIA6,0275.4%+1.2 pts

12▼3Osceola, IAIA5,6795.5%+1.4 pts

13▲15Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8375.6%−0.4 pts

14▲3Muscatine, IAIA23,1645.6%+0.8 pts

15▲34Atlantic, IAIA6,6765.6%−1.2 pts

16▼15Perry, IAIA8,2085.8%+2.7 pts

17▲8Boone, IAIA12,4716.3%+2.3 pts

18▼14Algona, IAIA5,3096.4%+2.0 pts

19▲16Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4936.6%+0.9 pts

20▲10Creston, IAIA7,3356.8%+3.2 pts

21Burlington, IAIA23,3366.9%+1.1 pts

22▼10Clinton, IAIA24,0497.0%+2.5 pts

23Waterloo, IAIA66,9197.0%−0.1 pts

24▲2Carroll, IAIA10,0857.1%+2.8 pts

25▲12Webster City, IAIA7,8157.1%+2.1 pts

26▼2Oelwein, IAIA5,7577.1%+3.3 pts

27▼11Storm Lake, IAIA11,5907.2%+1.2 pts

28▲13Mason City, IAIA26,8537.3%+0.7 pts

29▲2Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6807.3%+2.8 pts

30▲15Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5257.3%+3.3 pts

31▲3Marshalltown, IAIA27,5367.5%+2.0 pts

32▲7Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0137.8%+2.0 pts

33▲7Sioux City, IAIA86,3568.0%+1.6 pts

34▼16Newton, IAIA15,7418.0%+1.7 pts

35▼6Spencer, IAIA11,2188.0%+4.7 pts

36▼14Glenwood, IAIA5,2878.0%+4.0 pts

37▲11Independence, IAIA6,3128.1%+4.1 pts

38▼2Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5008.1%+2.5 pts

39▲4Nevada, IAIA6,9748.1%−0.8 pts

40▲7Ottumwa, IAIA25,3198.3%+2.9 pts

41▼27Knoxville, IAIA7,4698.5%+5.5 pts

42▼27Washington, IAIA7,2618.5%+2.4 pts

43▼10Anamosa, IAIA5,9018.6%+5.3 pts

44▲13Winterset, IAIA5,5208.6%+5.8 pts

45▼18Manchester, IAIA5,3579.3%+4.6 pts

46▲4Des Moines, IAIA212,0869.3%+2.9 pts

47▼37Vinton, IAIA5,0049.4%+3.6 pts

48▲14Cherokee, IAIA5,1229.7%+5.8 pts

49▼11Altoona, IAIA22,79610.4%+5.6 pts

50▲5Clear Lake, IAIA7,60110.7%+4.0 pts

51▲1Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23910.8%+4.5 pts

52▲2Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93510.9%+3.5 pts

53▼2Davenport, IAIA100,35810.9%+3.8 pts

54▲4Marion, IAIA42,73211.2%+4.5 pts

55▲12Norwalk, IAIA15,00411.3%+4.3 pts

56▼14Hiawatha, IAIA7,43211.6%+6.1 pts

57▼4Indianola, IAIA16,82911.9%+4.4 pts

58▲5Dubuque, IAIA59,14812.1%+4.4 pts

59▼3Adel, IAIA7,09812.5%+8.4 pts

60DeWitt, IAIA5,70413.0%+8.7 pts

61▲5Orange City, IAIA6,46813.5%+1.8 pts

62▼18Bondurant, IAIA9,64713.6%+10.6 pts

63▲9Sioux Center, IAIA8,86413.6%+2.8 pts

64▲4Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32414.1%+8.2 pts

65▼19Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05914.3%+1.9 pts

66▲16Asbury, IAIA6,03515.5%+7.4 pts

67▼2Pella, IAIA10,99215.8%+6.2 pts

68▲2Ankeny, IAIA77,83316.1%+5.6 pts

69▲8Decorah, IAIA7,41716.6%+5.0 pts

70▼11Eldridge, IAIA6,95418.0%+7.3 pts

71▼2Urbandale, IAIA48,57018.0%+5.2 pts

72▲1Waukee, IAIA34,89018.0%+9.8 pts

73▼2Polk City, IAIA6,63018.1%+12.2 pts

74▲6Grinnell, IAIA9,43018.2%+7.4 pts

75▼1Waverly, IAIA10,56118.3%+7.3 pts

76▲8North Liberty, IAIA21,97618.4%+11.4 pts

77▼13Grimes, IAIA17,40518.6%+11.1 pts

78▼3West Des Moines, IAIA74,22419.1%+4.9 pts

79▼18Tiffin, IAIA7,15619.2%+12.3 pts

80▼2Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24021.5%+5.3 pts

81▼5Johnston, IAIA25,06522.0%+6.8 pts

82▼3Bettendorf, IAIA40,71022.4%+9.2 pts

83▼2Fairfield, IAIA9,22022.8%+6.2 pts

84▲1Coralville, IAIA23,96024.0%+2.3 pts

85▼2Clive, IAIA19,86126.0%+8.8 pts

86▲1Iowa City, IAIA76,22929.8%+2.0 pts

87▼1Ames, IAIA68,22031.8%+3.7 pts

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES