Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
Iowa City , IA
The University of Iowa, founded in 1847, is a prestigious public research university located in Iowa City, Iowa. It is widely recognized as one of the leading institutions of higher education in the United States. The university offers an extensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields of study, including liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and the arts. With its strong emphasis on research, the University of Iowa is home to several renowned research centers and institutes.
One of the outstanding aspects of the University of Iowa is its robust writing program, which includes the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop. Considered one of the world's most prestigious creative writing programs, the workshop has produced numerous distinguished alumni, including Pulitzer Prize-winning authors and poets. Additionally, the university is known for its distinguished medical and healthcare programs, including the Carver College of Medicine and the College of Public Health. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is consistently ranked among the top medical centers in the United States.
The University of Iowa campus boasts a vibrant and diverse student community, with students coming from all 50 states and over 100 countries. The campus features a mix of historic and modern buildings and provides a wide range of resources and amenities for students, including state-of-the-art research facilities, libraries, sports facilities, and numerous student organizations and clubs. Furthermore, the university's commitment to sustainability is evident through initiatives such as LEED-certified buildings and innovative sustainability programs.
In conclusion, the University of Iowa offers a top-notch education with a wide range of programs and a strong emphasis on research and creativity. Its renowned writing program and distinguished medical and healthcare programs contribute to its reputation as an institution of excellence. With its diverse community, beautiful campus, and commitment to sustainability, the University of Iowa provides a supportive and enriching environment for students to thrive academically and personally.
Located in Iowa City, IA, The University of Iowa is a public university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 83%. The freshman retention rate at The University of Iowa is 90.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 75%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is May 5. Here are some current information on important things to consider about The University of Iowa.
Quick Facts
22,738
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Here are the most relevant facts you need to know about admission at The University of Iowa.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 23,222 in 2025. The University of Iowa has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
18.51% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 56.62% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 10.58% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 49.59% between 1,200 and 1,399, 36.62% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 3% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 15.73, 42.59 between 24-29, 36.76 in the range between 18-23, and 4.92 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 25 and the average GPA was 3.83. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into The University of Iowa; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 617 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 610.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by May 5.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for The University of Iowa was 90.4%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the right place for you is not easy. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 30,779 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 40.98% for that year. There was a total of 22,738 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 278 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,083.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 11,218 male and 14,735 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 2,276 full-time graduate male and 2,830 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 988, and the number of Black American students was 621. 1,979 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 859 as multirace. The school also had 9 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 37 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 926 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for The University of Iowa is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees for area resident were $9,565, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $31,653. If you are an international student at The University of Iowa, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $31,653, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $2,057 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $31,653 | $2,057 | $33,710 |
| In-State | $9,565 | $2,057 | $11,622 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $950.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at The University of Iowa was $13,088 in 2025. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $8,388 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,565 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,088 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 950 |
| Total Expense | $ 23,603 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial help available to students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at The University of Iowa, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 2,527 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $14,944 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 8,092 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 9,744. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $23,395,594, and state $4,064,671. The students of The University of Iowa received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $59,622,636, and external in the amount of $4,520,798.
$6,139
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 873 students overall (including freshmen) at The University of Iowa in 2025. 283 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $23,395,594 while the state aid is $229,424. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $41,434,063. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $4,990,876 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at The University of Iowa was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,598. This number included 845 male and 753 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at The University of Iowa is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at The University of Iowa.
Its campus spans 1,900 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 609. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 15 percent of male and 17 of female students are participants in different organizations at The University of Iowa. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Dance Marathon, followed by Culteral Centers and Fraternaties. Other popular student organizations at this school are Sororities and Hawks Nest.
If you are interested in music, you can join the The University of Iowa band or chorus. For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. You have a talent for media and communication? The University of Iowa publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
The University of Iowa provides a number of services important for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of The University of Iowa.
All in all, campus life at The University of Iowa is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at The University of Iowa.
Career Counselling
At The University of Iowa, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
Job Placement
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this school is 50,253 USD.
$50,253
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
-
The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, IA.
-
This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
-
The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for The University of Iowa is 83%.
-
According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for The University of Iowa is 90.4%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.