RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Fewest graduate degrees, Iowa cities · 2020

Iowa cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Most graduate degrees, US cities →

IowaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01Perry, IAIA8,2081.8%−42%

02Centerville, IAIA5,3274.1%+8%

03Denison, IAIA8,2144.2%+31%

04Algona, IAIA5,3094.3%−2%

05Keokuk, IAIA9,5104.5%−0%

06Fort Madison, IAIA9,9354.5%+18%

07Charles City, IAIA7,0134.6%+26%

08Maquoketa, IAIA6,0274.8%+16%

09Osceola, IAIA5,6794.9%+20%

10Vinton, IAIA5,0044.9%−16%

11Clarinda, IAIA5,2735.0%−12%

12Clinton, IAIA24,0495.2%+15%

13Sheldon, IAIA5,5755.3%+29%

14Knoxville, IAIA7,4695.3%+78%

15Washington, IAIA7,2615.4%−11%

16Storm Lake, IAIA11,5905.7%−4%

17Muscatine, IAIA23,1645.8%+20%

18Newton, IAIA15,7415.8%−7%

19Estherville, IAIA5,8075.9%+44%

20Red Oak, IAIA5,3885.9%+54%

21Burlington, IAIA23,3365.9%+3%

22Glenwood, IAIA5,2876.0%+50%

23Waterloo, IAIA66,9196.1%−14%

24Oelwein, IAIA5,7576.2%+61%

25Boone, IAIA12,4716.2%+56%

26Carroll, IAIA10,0856.3%+49%

27Manchester, IAIA5,3576.3%+37%

28Fort Dodge, IAIA24,8376.4%+7%

29Spencer, IAIA11,2186.6%+104%

30Creston, IAIA7,3356.7%+87%

31Council Bluffs, IAIA62,6806.8%+51%

32Le Mars, IAIA10,7606.9%+62%

33Anamosa, IAIA5,9016.9%+116%

34Marshalltown, IAIA27,5366.9%+26%

35Oskaloosa, IAIA11,4937.0%+22%

36Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,5007.1%+26%

37Webster City, IAIA7,8157.2%+42%

38Altoona, IAIA22,7967.3%+51%

39Iowa Falls, IAIA5,0137.4%+27%

40Sioux City, IAIA86,3567.4%+18%

41Mason City, IAIA26,8537.5%+15%

42Hiawatha, IAIA7,4327.5%+37%

43Nevada, IAIA6,9747.7%−14%

44Bondurant, IAIA9,6478.0%+168%

45Spirit Lake, IAIA5,5258.1%+102%

46Windsor Heights, IAIA5,0598.2%−34%

47Ottumwa, IAIA25,3198.3%+52%

48Independence, IAIA6,3128.3%+107%

49Atlantic, IAIA6,6768.3%+22%

50Des Moines, IAIA212,0868.5%+31%

51Davenport, IAIA100,3588.9%+25%

52Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,2399.6%+53%

53Indianola, IAIA16,8299.6%+29%

54Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,9359.9%+35%

55Clear Lake, IAIA7,60110.2%+52%

56Adel, IAIA7,09810.2%+149%

57Winterset, IAIA5,52010.3%+280%

58Marion, IAIA42,73210.6%+58%

59Eldridge, IAIA6,95410.6%−0%

60DeWitt, IAIA5,70410.8%+153%

61Tiffin, IAIA7,15611.4%+66%

62Cherokee, IAIA5,12211.4%+195%

63Dubuque, IAIA59,14811.8%+52%

64Grimes, IAIA17,40513.2%+77%

65Pella, IAIA10,99213.2%+38%

66Orange City, IAIA6,46813.7%+16%

67Norwalk, IAIA15,00413.9%+100%

68Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32414.0%+141%

69Urbandale, IAIA48,57014.8%+15%

70Ankeny, IAIA77,83315.3%+46%

71Polk City, IAIA6,63015.8%+166%

72Sioux Center, IAIA8,86415.9%+46%

73Waukee, IAIA34,89016.5%+101%

74Waverly, IAIA10,56116.9%+54%

75West Des Moines, IAIA74,22418.9%+34%

76Johnston, IAIA25,06519.1%+25%

77Decorah, IAIA7,41720.1%+73%

78Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24020.5%+27%

79Bettendorf, IAIA40,71021.3%+62%

80Grinnell, IAIA9,43021.4%+98%

81Fairfield, IAIA9,22021.9%+32%

82Asbury, IAIA6,03522.0%+172%

83Clive, IAIA19,86122.9%+33%

84North Liberty, IAIA21,97625.8%+271%

85Coralville, IAIA23,96027.0%+24%

86Ames, IAIA68,22029.7%+6%

87Iowa City, IAIA76,22929.7%+7%

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

Download CSV (full list, 87 rows)

UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES