Data / Rankings / High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over / Cities in Iowa

Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over

Grimes, IA had the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over of 41 cities in 2023, at 99.3%. Storm Lake, IA had the lowest, at 70.7%. The median was 95% and the figure for Iowa was 93.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest99.3Grimes, IA
Lowest70.7Storm Lake, IA
Median9541 cities
Iowa93.2History

All cities, 2023

Grimes, IA: 99.3 %Grimes, IA99.3North Liberty, IA: 98.7 %North Liberty, IA98.7Norwalk, IA: 98.6 %Norwalk, IA98.6Ankeny, IA: 97.8 %Ankeny, IA97.8Ames, IA: 97.5 %Ames, IA97.5Johnston, IA: 97.5 %Johnston, IA97.5Cedar Falls, IA: 97.4 %Cedar Falls, IA97.4Pleasant Hill, IA: 97.3 %Pleasant Hill, IA97.3Indianola, IA: 97.2 %Indianola, IA97.2Marion, IA: 97.1 %Marion, IA97.1Iowa City, IA: 96.8 %Iowa City, IA96.8Bettendorf, IA: 96.6 %Bettendorf, IA96.6West Des Moines, IA: 96.3 %West Des Moines, IA96.3Waukee, IA: 96 %Waukee, IA96Boone, IA: 95.8 %Boone, IA95.8Pella, IA: 95.7 %Pella, IA95.7Altoona, IA: 95.6 %Altoona, IA95.6Coralville, IA: 95.5 %Coralville, IA95.5Clive, IA: 95.3 %Clive, IA95.3Spencer, IA: 95.2 %Spencer, IA95.2Carroll, IA: 95 %Carroll, IA95Urbandale, IA: 94.9 %Urbandale, IA94.9Waverly, IA: 94.6 %Waverly, IA94.6Le Mars, IA: 94.5 %Le Mars, IA94.5Cedar Rapids, IA: 94.2 %Cedar Rapids, IA94.2Oskaloosa, IA: 94 %Oskaloosa, IA94Burlington, IA: 93.6 %Burlington, IA93.6Dubuque, IA: 93.6 %Dubuque, IA93.6Mason City, IA: 93.3 %Mason City, IA93.3Davenport, IA: 92.6 %Davenport, IA92.6Newton, IA: 92.3 %Newton, IA92.3Fort Dodge, IA: 90.8 %Fort Dodge, IA90.8Waterloo, IA: 90.7 %Waterloo, IA90.7Muscatine, IA: 89.8 %Muscatine, IA89.8Clinton, IA: 89.4 %Clinton, IA89.4Council Bluffs, IA: 89.1 %Council Bluffs, IA89.1Des Moines, IA: 87.3 %Des Moines, IA87.3Ottumwa, IA: 85.6 %Ottumwa, IA85.6Sioux City, IA: 84.9 %Sioux City, IA84.9Marshalltown, IA: 82.1 %Marshalltown, IA82.1Storm Lake, IA: 70.7 %Storm Lake, IA70.7Grimes, IA: 99.3 %Grimes, IA99.3North Liberty, IA: 98.7 %North Liberty, IA98.7Norwalk, IA: 98.6 %Norwalk, IA98.6Ankeny, IA: 97.8 %Ankeny, IA97.8Ames, IA: 97.5 %Ames, IA97.5Johnston, IA: 97.5 %Johnston, IA97.5Cedar Falls, IA: 97.4 %Cedar Falls, IA97.4Pleasant Hill, IA: 97.3 %Pleasant Hill, IA97.3Indianola, IA: 97.2 %Indianola, IA97.2Marion, IA: 97.1 %Marion, IA97.1Iowa City, IA: 96.8 %Iowa City, IA96.8Bettendorf, IA: 96.6 %Bettendorf, IA96.6West Des Moines, IA: 96.3 %West Des Moines, IA96.3Waukee, IA: 96 %Waukee, IA96Boone, IA: 95.8 %Boone, IA95.8Pella, IA: 95.7 %Pella, IA95.7Altoona, IA: 95.6 %Altoona, IA95.6Coralville, IA: 95.5 %Coralville, IA95.5Clive, IA: 95.3 %Clive, IA95.3Spencer, IA: 95.2 %Spencer, IA95.2Carroll, IA: 95 %Carroll, IA95Urbandale, IA: 94.9 %Urbandale, IA94.9Waverly, IA: 94.6 %Waverly, IA94.6Le Mars, IA: 94.5 %Le Mars, IA94.5Cedar Rapids, IA: 94.2 %Cedar Rapids, IA94.2Oskaloosa, IA: 94 %Oskaloosa, IA94Burlington, IA: 93.6 %Burlington, IA93.6Dubuque, IA: 93.6 %Dubuque, IA93.6Mason City, IA: 93.3 %Mason City, IA93.3Davenport, IA: 92.6 %Davenport, IA92.6Newton, IA: 92.3 %Newton, IA92.3Fort Dodge, IA: 90.8 %Fort Dodge, IA90.8Waterloo, IA: 90.7 %Waterloo, IA90.7Muscatine, IA: 89.8 %Muscatine, IA89.8Clinton, IA: 89.4 %Clinton, IA89.4Council Bluffs, IA: 89.1 %Council Bluffs, IA89.1Des Moines, IA: 87.3 %Des Moines, IA87.3Ottumwa, IA: 85.6 %Ottumwa, IA85.6Sioux City, IA: 84.9 %Sioux City, IA84.9Marshalltown, IA: 82.1 %Marshalltown, IA82.1Storm Lake, IA: 70.7 %Storm Lake, IA70.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Grimes, IA99.3+0.9 pts
2North Liberty, IA98.7+0.1 pts
3Norwalk, IA98.60 pts
4Ankeny, IA97.8-0.2 pts
5Ames, IA97.5+0.1 pts
6Johnston, IA97.5+0.8 pts
7Cedar Falls, IA97.4+0.3 pts
8Pleasant Hill, IA97.3+0.6 pts
9Indianola, IA97.2+0.7 pts
10Marion, IA97.1+0.4 pts
11Iowa City, IA96.8-0 pts
12Bettendorf, IA96.6-0.9 pts
13West Des Moines, IA96.3-0.3 pts
14Waukee, IA96-1.5 pts
15Boone, IA95.8+1.6 pts
16Pella, IA95.7+0.8 pts
17Altoona, IA95.6-0.8 pts
18Coralville, IA95.5+0.5 pts
19Clive, IA95.3-0.6 pts
20Spencer, IA95.2-1 pts
21Carroll, IA95+0.2 pts
22Urbandale, IA94.9-0.4 pts
23Waverly, IA94.6-0.8 pts
24Le Mars, IA94.5-1 pts
25Cedar Rapids, IA94.2+0.2 pts
26Oskaloosa, IA94+1.5 pts
27Burlington, IA93.6+1.5 pts
28Dubuque, IA93.6+0.2 pts
29Mason City, IA93.3+0.4 pts
30Davenport, IA92.6+0.6 pts
31Newton, IA92.3-0.8 pts
32Fort Dodge, IA90.8+0.6 pts
33Waterloo, IA90.7+0.3 pts
34Muscatine, IA89.8+0.6 pts
35Clinton, IA89.4+0.4 pts
36Council Bluffs, IA89.1+0.7 pts
37Des Moines, IA87.3-0.4 pts
38Ottumwa, IA85.6-1 pts
39Sioux City, IA84.9-0.6 pts
40Marshalltown, IA82.1+2.5 pts
41Storm Lake, IA70.7+2.5 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over who hold a regular high school diploma, a GED or alternative credential, or any higher level of education, as a percentage of all people aged 25 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Measures the adult population, not students: it is not the high school graduation rate of a class. Not comparable with the EU share below upper secondary education, which covers ages 25 to 64.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/iowa-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/iowa-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/iowa-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_iowa_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/iowa-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/iowa-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/iowa-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Iowa by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Grimes, IA, with 99.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Storm Lake, IA, with 70.7% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over: other rankings

Cities in Iowa: more rankings