Buena Vista University offers a comprehensive educational adventure, balancing traditional liberal arts studies with innovative professional experiences. Long a leader in information technology, BVU is currently at the nation's forefront in providing "anytime, anywhere" on-line access by creating a campus-wide wireless network and providing students with notebook computers. We are proud to be the first college campus in the nation to create a "worldwide community" in this way. Buena Vista University's 60-acre campus is situated on the shores of beautiful Storm Lake, a 3,200-acre natural lake. The northwest Iowa city of Storm Lake is an attractive, professional community of approximately 10,000, offering a variety of health care services, financial institutions, retail businesses, dining establishments, movie theatres, a municipal golf course and a country club. Scenic parks and the Lake Trail line the lake, providing a picturesque setting for outdoor and water activities.

Central College officially opened on October 8, 1854 with a class of 37. The "campus" consisted of one two-story building containing three rudimentary classrooms. This fledgling institution grew both in size and mission during its first 60 years, eventually moving to a parcel of land donated by Pella's founding father, Dominie Pieter Scholte. The College survived fires, three wars, and economic depression during a period of history that saw the United States double in size. It remained solvent because of the faith and dedication of its early faculty members, some of whom accepted produce from local farms as payment. In 1916, Central was transferred from Baptist control to the Reformed Church in America. The relationship with the RCA strengthened the College as families within the denomination sent their sons and daughters to be educated for teaching and the ministry. As its academic reputation grew, Central attracted many more students from outside the denomination. International study programs were introduced in 1965, spawning an institutional emphasis on cross-cultural study. The first overseas study center was established in Vienna, Austria and a second was added in Paris, France. Later, programs were opened in Granada, Spain; Carmarthen, Wales; London, England; Merida, Yucatan, Mexico; and Leiden, the Netherlands. An eighth international program, in Colchester, England, was established in 1997.

A private, coeducational, residential college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Dordt College had its beginning in 1937 with the circulation among midwestern Christian Reformed Churches of proposals and recommendations regarding the establishment of a Christian college. World War II put an end to these discussions; however, after the war, the movement gained new impetus due to the critical shortage of qualified teachers for Christian schools in the area. The college was organized in 1953 as the Midwest Christian Junior College. Under this name, instruction began in September 1955 with 35 students and five faculty members. In 1956 the name of the college was changed to Dordt College.

Sites related to Faith Baptist Bible College, an accredited institution affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, and located in Ankeny, Iowa.

Graceland has an enrollment in all programs of more than 3,300 students - the third largest of private colleges and universities in the state of Iowa. Graceland is headquartered at the Lamoni campus which was established in 1895. This residential campus offers 43 majors with more than 60 degree options, 17 varsity sports and a full program of intramurals and activities for our men's and women's residential houses.

A four-year liberal arts college located in Des Moines, Iowa, Grand View hosts 1,750 students in 31 different academic programs. The College is committed to a rich academic and residential life and to preparing students for careers through hands-on learning experiences. For the past 12 years, 98% of Grand View graduates have found professional employment or gone on to graduate school within six months of graduation.

After discussions extending over several years, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America decided on October 10, 1857, to found a college and began to gather subscriptions for a building fund. In the same year it also decided that, until such time as suitable buildings could be erected, students should be sent to Concordia College and Seminary in St. Louis, and that a Norwegian professorship should be established there. The first three students went to St. Louis in 1858 and five more followed the next year. The Norwegian professorship was filled in 1859, when Rev. Laur. Larsen was appointed, entering officially upon his duties October 14, 1859. Hence October 14 was designated as Founders' Day by the college. With the outbreak of the Civil War, disorders arose in St. Louis; Concordia College and Seminary closed in April, 1861; and Professor Larsen and students returned home. At its meeting in June 1861, the church decided to proceed at once to establish its own college. In August, although a building in Decorah had been rented and partially renovated, college authorities decided to make use of a newly erected vacant parsonage at Halfway Creek, Wis., about 13 miles north of La Crosse. There the school opened September 1, 1861, with two teachers, Laur. Larsen and F. A. Schmidt. Larsen and Schmidt also served as pastors for the immigrants then living in the area. The enrollment for the year was 16. In Decorah In the summer of 1862 the school was transferred to Decorah; its first home was the building, still standing, at the northwest corner of Winnebago and Main streets. The first building on the college campus was "Main," dedicated October 14, 1865. The present Main building is the third "Main" to stand on the same site, the two preceding having been destroyed by fire in 1889 and 1942. Though college work was begun in 1861, the Civil War, illness, and other causes left none of that year's freshman class to graduate in 1865. The first graduating class, therefore, was that of 1866. For 75 years the school admitted men only; then in 1936 Luther College became coeducational. When the institution celebrated its centennial in 1961, it had an enrollment of 1,357 and a staff of 74 full-time and 12 part-time teachers.

Northwestern College is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Founded in 1882 as a Christian Academy, Northwestern was first a high school and then a junior college until 1961, when it became a four-year liberal arts college. Northwestern is one of 100 members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Sites related to St. Ambrose University, an accredited Catholic liberal arts university in Davenport, Iowa.

The institution was founded in 1860 by members of the Iowa United Methodist Church. It is considered a United Methodist related, independent, undergraduate, coeducational, liberal arts college.

This category consists of sites relating to two-year, post-secondary, educational institutions located in Iowa.

Upper Iowa University, the largest private college in Iowa, is a four-year, liberal arts institution of higher learning offering quality degree programs to over 700 on-campus students and to over 4,400 center, graduate, and independent study students. Located in the city of Fayette in the scenic Volga River Valley of northeast Iowa, Upper Iowa University provides education to a widely diverse student clientele, including both recent high school graduates and mature learners. Our mission and vision statements reflect our attitude toward education and toward our students.

Waldorf was founded in 1903 by The Reverend C. S. Salveson, then the pastor of what is now Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. Unlike several other Lutheran colleges founded by Norwegian immigrants and the first generation of their progeny, Waldorf began operation as an academy and business college rather than as a preparatory program primarily for future pastors. Since 1920, when Waldorf became a junior college, the curriculum has gradually evolved to fully reflect a liberal arts emphasis. Now, nearly all students enroll with the intent of ultimately earning at least a bachelors degree. In the spring of 1994, the College was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer the bachelors degree.

Wartburg College is a nationally recognized four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Jack R. Ohle is the college's 15th president. Established in 1852, the college is named after the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany. The castle is closely tied to Lutheran history through Martin Luther, who spent 10 months there in seclusion during the stormy days of the Reformation. St. Elizabeth (1207-1231) is also associated with the Wartburg Castle, where she lived as the wife of Ludwig IV, a Thuringian landgrave. Inspired by St. Francis' teachings, she spent much of her life ministering to the less fortunate. After the death of Ludwig, she left the Wartburg Castle and became a Franciscan. She was canonized in 1235.

William Penn University is a liberal arts university founded by Quaker pioneers in 1873, with the ideal of providing quality education to all. That ideal hasn't changed. William Penn is still devoted to providing a liberal arts education with a leadership focus. The John Templeton Foundation has recognized Penn’s Leadership Core curriculum as an exemplary program in student leadership development. Templeton evaluators consider programs based on the development of the competencies, conscience, and compassion required of leaders in a civil society.