Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.

Best Catholic schools in Iowa

Catholic colleges

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
RankSchoolCompass ScoreCompass Score: Catholic identity (75%) and academics (25%) for Catholic schools.FaithFaith: the average of the four faith pillars. Other colleges are graded on Catholic life on campus instead.AcademicsAcademic Excellence: a score from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
1Loras CollegeCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Dubuque, IABFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.71BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
2Saint Ambrose UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Davenport, IABFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.67
3Mount Mercy UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Cedar Rapids, IACFaith: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.66CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.62
4Clarke UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Dubuque, IACFaith: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.56CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.62
5Briar Cliff UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Sioux City, IADFaith: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.52CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.59
6Divine Word CollegeRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.CatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Epworth, IABFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81—Academics: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Loras CollegeCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Dubuque, IA
    • FaithBFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.71
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
  2. 2
    Saint Ambrose UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Davenport, IA
    • FaithBFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.67
  3. 3
    Mount Mercy UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Cedar Rapids, IA
    • FaithCFaith: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.66
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.62
  4. 4
    Clarke UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Dubuque, IA
    • FaithCFaith: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.56
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.62
  5. 5
    Briar Cliff UniversityCatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Sioux City, IA
    • FaithDFaith: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.52
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.59
  6. 6
    Divine Word CollegeRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.CatholicCatholic college: federal data lists a Roman Catholic affiliation (or it has been verified as Catholic), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Epworth, IA
    • FaithBFaith: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
    • Academics—Academics: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

All Catholic colleges in Iowa ›

Catholic life at other colleges

Sorted by Catholic Life Score, highest first
RankSchoolCatholic Life ScoreCatholic Life Score: the same measure we use for every college: campus Catholic life (75%) and academics (25%).Catholic lifeAcademicsAcademic Excellence: a score from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.Enrollment
1University of IowaCampus Ministry Honor RollCampus Ministry Honor Roll: a Catholic life score of 85 or higher (grade A) at a college that is not Catholic.Iowa City, IAACatholic life: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.96BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.7830,042
2Iowa State UniversityAmes, IABCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.7530,177

Sorted by Catholic Life Score, highest first

  1. 1
    University of IowaCampus Ministry Honor RollCampus Ministry Honor Roll: a Catholic life score of 85 or higher (grade A) at a college that is not Catholic.Iowa City, IA
    • Catholic lifeACatholic life: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.96
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.78
  2. 2
    Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA
    • Catholic lifeBCatholic life: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.75

All other colleges in Iowa ›

Catholic high schools

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
RankSchoolCompass ScoreCompass Score: Catholic identity (75%) and academics (25%) for Catholic schools.FaithFaith: the average of the four faith pillars for Catholic high schools.AcademicsAcademic Excellence for high schools: the share of graduates who go to four-year colleges, and students per teacher.
1Dowling Catholic High SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.West Des Moines, IAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.95BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
2Bishop Heelan Catholic High SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Sioux City, IAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.94BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
3Holy Family Catholic SchoolsHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Dubuque, IAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.93CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.68
4Xavier High SchoolRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.Cedar Rapids, IAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.89CAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.68
5Beckman Catholic Junior/Senior High SchoolDyersville, IAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.95FAcademics: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.13
6Cedar Valley Catholic SchoolWaterloo, IAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.94FAcademics: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.15

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Dowling Catholic High SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.West Des Moines, IA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.95
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
  2. 2
    Bishop Heelan Catholic High SchoolHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Sioux City, IA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.94
    • AcademicsBAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
  3. 3
    Holy Family Catholic SchoolsHonor RollCatholic School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70.Dubuque, IA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.93
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.68
  4. 4
    Xavier High SchoolRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.Cedar Rapids, IA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.89
    • AcademicsCAcademics: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.68
  5. 5
    Beckman Catholic Junior/Senior High SchoolDyersville, IA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.95
    • AcademicsFAcademics: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.13
  6. 6
    Cedar Valley Catholic SchoolWaterloo, IA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.94
    • AcademicsFAcademics: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.15

All Catholic high schools in Iowa ›