Iowa Private School Trends (13-Year)

259

Private Schools

-14.5% (-44 schools) 13-yr

52,668

Students

-0.5% (-261 students) 13-yr

$7,363

Avg. Tuition

Avg. Class Size

+6.7% (+1 student) 13-yr

16%

Students of Color

+33.3% (+4.0 pp) 10-yr

12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

-14.3% (-2.0) 13-yr

Enrollment & Diversity

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year	Iowa (IA) Total	US Avg per State
2025	254	671
2024	260	703
2023	246	665
2022	239	612
2021	243	637
2020	251	684
2019	245	665
2018	248	677
2017	242	631
2016	247	644
2015	260	683
2013	262	671
2012	303	776

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The number of private schools in Iowa rose from 247 in 2016 to 254 in 2025, while the national average per state rose from 644 to 671.

# Students

52,668 Students

111,433 Students
avg. per state

View Largest Iowa Private Schools

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Trends in Total Number of Private School Students

Year	Iowa (IA) Total	US Avg per State
2025	52,607	111,945
2024	52,425	113,628
2023	44,876	108,484
2022	46,111	104,892
2021	46,500	106,817
2020	46,958	109,411
2019	46,850	108,956
2018	47,288	109,868
2017	45,716	106,255
2016	46,242	107,443
2015	47,381	108,505
2013	49,039	112,168
2012	52,929	118,624

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The number of private school students in Iowa rose from 46,242 in 2016 to 52,607 in 2025.

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

Grade	Iowa
Nursery	593
Pre-K	5,704
Kind	4,648
1	3,896
2	3,801
3	3,851
4	3,958
5	4,004
6	3,774
7	3,518
8	3,814
9	3,042
10	2,783
11	2,655
12	2,555
Not Listed	72

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Pre-K is the largest grade in Iowa private schools, with 5,704 students.

Average School Size

218 Students

179 Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Trends in Average School Size

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	217	179
2024	212	172
2023	192	174
2022	203	185
2021	201	180
2020	196	171
2019	199	175
2018	197	172
2017	195	180
2016	194	178
2015	188	167
2013	193	176
2012	179	160

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% Average Students of Color

16%

34%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	16%	34%
2024	16%	34%
2023	17%	33%
2022	15%	33%
2021	16%	32%
2020	15%	32%
2019	14%	31%
2018	15%	31%
2017	13%	32%
2016	13%	32%
2015	12%	32%

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The average percentage of students of color in Iowa private schools was 18 points lower than the national average in 2025, at 16% versus 34%.

Academics

# Teachers

4,273 Teachers

509,210 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

11:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	12:1	11:1
2024	12:1	11:1
2023	13:1	11:1
2022	13:1	11:1
2021	13:1	11:1
2020	13:1	12:1
2019	14:1	12:1
2018	14:1	12:1
2017	13:1	12:1
2016	13:1	12:1
2015	13:1	12:1
2013	14:1	12:1
2012	14:1	12:1

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Iowa’s average student-teacher ratio in private schools fell from 13:1 in 2016 to 12:1 in 2025.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

39%

55%

View Iowa Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	40%	55%
2024	41%	54%
2023	41%	54%
2022	41%	54%
2021	42%	54%
2020	42%	54%
2019	42%	53%
2018	39%	53%
2017	36%	53%
2016	38%	52%
2015	39%	52%
2013	39%	52%
2012	38%	52%

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The average percentage of faculty with advanced degrees in Iowa was 40% in 2025, 15 points below the national 55%.

Average Class Size

16 students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Class Size Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	16	15
2024	16	15
2023	15	15
2022	16	15
2021	16	15
2020	16	15
2019	16	15
2018	16	15
2017	15	15
2016	15	15
2015	15	15
2013	15	15
2012	15	15

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Average Number of AP Courses

8 courses

13 courses

View Iowa Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	9	12
2024	9	12
2023	8	11
2022	9	11
2021	9	11
2020	9	11
2019	8	11
2018	7	11
2017	7	10
2016	7	10
2015	7	10

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The average number of AP courses offered in Iowa private schools rose from 7 in 2016 to 9 in 2025, while the national average rose from 10 to 12.

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

View Average Private School ACT Scores in Iowa

View Data

ACT Score Trends (2016-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	25	26
2024	25	26
2023	25	26
2022	25	26
2021	25	26
2020	24	25
2019	24	25
2018	24	25
2017	24	25
2016	24	25

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The average ACT score at Iowa private schools rose from 24 in 2016 to 25 in 2025, while the national average rose from 25 to 26.

Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$7,363

$14,121

View Iowa Private Schools By Tuition Cost

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Tuition Cost Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Median	National
2025	$5,950	$8,480
2024	$5,613	$8,100
2023	$4,254	$7,707
2022	$4,254	$7,500
2021	$4,254	$7,250
2020	$4,112	$7,030
2019	$4,112	$7,000
2018	$4,227	$6,800
2017	$4,254	$6,570
2016	$3,700	$6,375
2015	$3,700	$6,000
2013	$3,780	$6,000
2012	$4,070	$5,983

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Each figure is the median of the individual reporting schools in that year. The reporting schools can vary from year to year, so a change in the median is not the change experienced by the same schools.

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Median tuition in Iowa rose from $3,700 in 2016 to $5,950 in 2025, still below the national median of $8,480.

Average % on Financial Aid

39%

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	37%	34%
2024	38%	34%
2023	38%	34%
2022	38%	33%
2021	38%	33%
2020	36%	32%
2019	36%	31%
2018	37%	30%
2017	35%	30%
2016	34%	29%
2015	33%	28%
2013	37%	27%
2012	36%	27%

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Average Financial Aid Grant

$2,780

$7,682

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	$2,769	$7,073
2024	$2,727	$6,930
2023	$3,038	$6,469
2022	$2,364	$6,289
2021	$2,185	$6,055
2020	$2,161	$5,921
2019	$2,028	$5,795
2018	$1,968	$5,456
2017	$1,243	$5,319
2016	$1,160	$5,105
2015	$992	$5,030
2013	$1,038	$4,951
2012	$1,053	$4,687

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Average Acceptance Rate

92%

85%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Iowa

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 14-year historical data

Acceptance Rate Trends (2012-2025)

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	92%	85%
2024	94%	85%
2023	93%	85%
2022	94%	85%
2021	94%	85%
2020	94%	85%
2019	93%	85%
2018	93%	85%
2017	95%	85%
2016	97%	85%
2015	97%	85%
2013	97%	85%
2012	96%	85%

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Students by Ethnicity

0.48

0.65

View Iowa Private Schools Minority Statistics

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Diversity Score Trends

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	0.47	0.65
2024	0.47	0.65
2023	0.50	0.65
2022	0.47	0.64
2021	0.47	0.64
2020	0.47	0.64
2019	0.46	0.63
2018	0.45	0.63
2017	0.39	0.61
2016	0.39	0.61
2015	0.39	0.61

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The average diversity score for private schools in Iowa rose from 0.39 in 2016 to 0.47 in 2025, while the national average increased from 0.61 to 0.65.

# American Indian Students

116 Students

29,810 Students

% American Indian Students

<1%

# Asian Students

1,075 Students

264,325 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Asian Student Percentage Trends

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	3%	5%
2024	2%	5%
2023	3%	5%
2022	2%	4%
2021	3%	4%
2020	2%	4%
2019	2%	4%
2018	2%	4%
2017	2%	4%
2016	2%	4%
2015	2%	4%

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# Hispanic Students

3,392 Students

506,539 Students

% Hispanic Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	6%	9%
2024	7%	9%
2023	6%	9%
2022	6%	8%
2021	6%	9%
2020	6%	9%
2019	5%	8%
2018	5%	8%
2017	4%	8%
2016	4%	8%
2015	4%	8%

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The share of Hispanic private school students in Iowa rose from 4% in 2016 to 6% in 2025, while the national share increased from 8% to 9%.

# Black Students

1,537 Students

415,485 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Black Student Percentage Trends

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	3%	7%
2024	3%	7%
2023	3%	8%
2022	3%	7%
2021	3%	7%
2020	3%	8%
2019	3%	7%
2018	3%	7%
2017	2%	7%
2016	2%	7%
2015	2%	8%

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The share of private school students identifying as Black in Iowa rose from 2% in 2016 to 3% in 2025, while the national share was 7%.

# White Students

36,965 Students

2,924,590 Students

% White Students

70%

52%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

White Student Percentage Trends

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	70%	52%
2024	71%	52%
2023	68%	52%
2022	71%	54%
2021	70%	54%
2020	71%	54%
2019	72%	56%
2018	72%	56%
2017	77%	58%
2016	76%	58%
2015	76%	58%

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The share of White private school students in Iowa fell from 76% in 2016 to 70% in 2025.

# Hawaiian Students

98 Students

20,065 Students

% Hawaiian Students

<1%

# Others Students

9,655 Students

1,472,829 Students

% of Others Students

18%

26%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. View full 11-year historical data

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

Year	Iowa (IA) Avg	National
2025	18%	26%
2024	17%	26%
2023	20%	25%
2022	18%	25%
2021	18%	25%
2020	18%	24%
2019	18%	24%
2018	18%	23%
2017	15%	22%
2016	16%	22%
2015	16%	21%

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The share of Iowa private school students identifying as other races rose from 16% in 2016 to 18% in 2025.

All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars & Sports

Average Number of Extracurriculars

6 extracurriculars

9 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

7 sports

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Iowa?

The top-ranked private schools in Iowa include Maharishi School, Prince Of Peace Catholic School, and Rivermont Collegiate.

How many private schools are located in Iowa?

There are 259 private schools are located in Iowa.

How much do private schools cost in Iowa?

The average private school tuition in Iowa is $7,323 for elementary schools and $11,060 for high schools

How diverse are private schools in Iowa?

Approximately 16% of students in Iowa private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).

What percentage of students in Iowa go to private school?

10% of all K-12 students in Iowa attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).

What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Iowa?

81% of private schools in Iowa are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Which private schools in Iowa are often viewed compared to one another?

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The map shows the schools listed on this page, not every private school in Iowa.