CityFunIndex

Des Moines, IA · the CityFunIndex

Higher Education in Des Moines

Des Moines ranks T#8 of 134 US cities for higher education, with a Higher Education score of 90 — Exceptional. That puts it in the 95th percentile nationally and #1 of 1 in Iowa.

Higher Education score
90
Exceptional
National rank
T#8 of 134
In Iowa
#1 of 1
Percentile
95th

The typical city scores 50 for higher education; Des Moines sits 40 points above the median.

How higher education is measured

Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.

Data sources: NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.

Full methodology → Glossary The raw measurement is part of the Data plan →

Ranked around Des Moines

  1. T#5 Burlington, VT 91
  2. T#5 Jackson, MS 91
  3. T#8 Des Moines, IA — this page 90
  4. T#11 Baton Rouge, LA 89
  5. T#11 Lubbock, TX 89

See the full leaderboard — Best cities for higher education →

Top US cities for higher education

  1. #1 Fargo, ND 93
  2. T#2 Birmingham, AL 92
  3. T#2 Hartford, CT 92
  4. T#2 Providence, RI 92
  5. T#5 Bridgeport, CT 91

More about Des Moines

Des Moines scores 74 overall (Very Fun) on the CityFunIndex. Its strongest factors: