RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Most educated, Iowa cities · 1990

Iowa cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost college graduates Least educated Most graduate degrees Fewest graduate degrees

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

01Ames, IAIA68,22054.1%–

02Iowa City, IAIA76,22953.7%–

03Clive, IAIA19,86145.8%–

04Coralville, IAIA23,96044.4%–

05Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05942.4%–

06West Des Moines, IAIA74,22441.8%–

07Urbandale, IAIA48,57037.5%–

08Fairfield, IAIA9,22034.3%–

09Bettendorf, IAIA40,71034.2%–

10Johnston, IAIA25,06533.8%–

11Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24031.4%–

12Ankeny, IAIA77,83329.1%–

13Decorah, IAIA7,41728.3%–

14North Liberty, IAIA21,97625.9%–

15Grinnell, IAIA9,43024.5%–

16Orange City, IAIA6,46823.6%–

17Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93523.3%–

18Sioux Center, IAIA8,86423.1%–

19Asbury, IAIA6,03523.1%–

20Waverly, IAIA10,56122.3%–

21Pella, IAIA10,99221.8%–

22Indianola, IAIA16,82921.8%–

23Grimes, IAIA17,40521.4%–

24Marion, IAIA42,73221.2%–

25Altoona, IAIA22,79620.2%–

26Davenport, IAIA100,35820.1%–

27Dubuque, IAIA59,14819.4%–

28Le Mars, IAIA10,76019.1%–

29Des Moines, IAIA212,08618.9%–

30Waukee, IAIA34,89018.6%–

31Adel, IAIA7,09818.4%–

32Norwalk, IAIA15,00418.0%–

33Clear Lake, IAIA7,60117.8%–

34Marshalltown, IAIA27,53617.8%–

35Sioux City, IAIA86,35617.5%–

36Hiawatha, IAIA7,43217.1%–

37Eldridge, IAIA6,95417.0%–

38Storm Lake, IAIA11,59017.0%–

39Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50016.9%–

40Sheldon, IAIA5,57516.8%–

41Mason City, IAIA26,85316.3%–

42DeWitt, IAIA5,70416.1%–

43Spencer, IAIA11,21816.1%–

44Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83716.1%–

45Atlantic, IAIA6,67615.9%–

46Manchester, IAIA5,35715.8%–

47Algona, IAIA5,30915.8%–

48Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49315.7%–

49Newton, IAIA15,74115.6%–

50Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23915.4%–

51Tiffin, IAIA7,15615.2%–

52Polk City, IAIA6,63015.0%–

53Boone, IAIA12,47114.9%–

54Nevada, IAIA6,97414.8%–

55Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52514.8%–

56Muscatine, IAIA23,16414.5%–

57Clarinda, IAIA5,27314.4%–

58Maquoketa, IAIA6,02714.4%–

59Clinton, IAIA24,04914.4%–

60Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01314.2%–

61Carroll, IAIA10,08514.1%–

62Creston, IAIA7,33514.1%–

63Waterloo, IAIA66,91914.1%–

64Burlington, IAIA23,33614.0%–

65Glenwood, IAIA5,28713.9%–

66Oelwein, IAIA5,75713.8%–

67Charles City, IAIA7,01313.8%–

68Red Oak, IAIA5,38813.8%–

69Independence, IAIA6,31213.6%–

70Perry, IAIA8,20813.4%–

71Winterset, IAIA5,52013.4%–

72Washington, IAIA7,26113.2%–

73Centerville, IAIA5,32713.2%–

74Webster City, IAIA7,81512.4%–

75Denison, IAIA8,21412.1%–

76Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32411.9%–

77Anamosa, IAIA5,90111.7%–

78Estherville, IAIA5,80711.7%–

79Fort Madison, IAIA9,93511.5%–

80Knoxville, IAIA7,46911.5%–

81Bondurant, IAIA9,64711.4%–

82Osceola, IAIA5,67911.3%–

83Ottumwa, IAIA25,31911.2%–

84Cherokee, IAIA5,12210.7%–

85Keokuk, IAIA9,51010.2%–

86Vinton, IAIA5,00410.0%–

87Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68010.0%–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS