University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
The University of Iowa is a public university in IA, founded in 1847, and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 22,304 and the graduate enrollment is 8,014. The University of Iowa is a moderately selective school, receiving 24,132 applications and accepting 82.6% of applicants. The University of Iowa’s athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, the University of Iowa employs 1,437 full-time instructional staff (89% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
68
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to the University of Iowa will apply through the Common Application, the Coalition Application, and the University of Iowa application. Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts for the Common Application itself.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Regular Application Deadline
May 1st
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Class Rank - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Standardized Test Scores - Very Important
- Character/Personal Quantities - Considered
Average Acceptance Rate
82.60%
STUDENT LIFE
Student Life
The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa, the state’s first capital, which currently ranks #4 in Livability’s Top 100 Cities to live, especially for creatives. Iowa’s 2,122-acre campus has a city setting and a great deal of history surrounding the Old Capitol, formerly the home of the state legislature. First-year students will quickly discover that this area is the center of student life at the university with 6 residence halls, administrative offices, undergraduate classes, and the Main Library (among other facilities) calling the east side home. The University of Iowa campus is also proud of its extensive collection of public art, including many important works that enrich student life.
Housing
- 23% of students live on campus
- No special consideration for freshmen for housing on campus
Although first-year students aren’t required to live on campus, nearly 95% choose to as life on campus is not just affordable, but is also the most convenient way to make new friends (and lifelong connections) and find their place in the greater Iowa community. Ten traditional residence halls provide first-year students with a wide range of rooms and amenities with a majority being doubles with shared bathrooms. All halls also feature laundry facilities, vending machines, and an open visitation policy and students have a choice of mixed-gender or gender-inclusive communities.
Life as a Student
The University of Iowa campus is dedicated to ensuring positive student life for first-year students and fosters success from start to finish by upholding activities that make a difference. As a comprehensive school that still feels small, Iowa is proud of its 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio that allows for smaller class sizes so students can more easily connect with their teachers to meet their unique goals. For life outside the classroom, the school creates and promotes “inclusive, educationally purposeful activities and services,” including sponsoring over 500 student organizations. These groups cover a wide range of interests, such as art, politics, sports, and lifestyle. However, the University of Iowa likewise invests in facilities like its newly reopened Iowa City Englert Theater to offer entertainment as many as 40 nights a year. Finally, students are encouraged to continue Iowa’s long-standing traditions, such as the Daily Iowan newspaper and KRUI Radio.
TOP MAJORS
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Finance
Liberal Arts and Humanities
Business
Psychology
Marketing
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24 hour trained security
- Late night ride/safe escort service
Student Services
- Health Center
- Legal Advice
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Crew
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Wrestling
Basketball
Cheerleading
Crew
Field Hockey
Golf
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Archery
Fencing
Field Hockey
Rugby
Sailing
Skiing (downhill)
Weight Lifting
Water Polo
Skiing (cross country)
Archery
Fencing
Field Hockey
Rugby
Sailing
Skiing (downhill)
Weight Lifting
Water Polo
Skiing (cross country)
Intramural
Intramural
Badminton
Bowling
Basketball
Football
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming & Diving
Tennis
Track & Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Wrestling
Badminton
Bowling
Basketball
Football
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming & Diving
Tennis
Track & Field
Table Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Wrestling
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
The University of Iowa has spent 17 consecutive years listed as a Fiske Guide to Colleges “Best Buy.”
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition & Fees (Non-Resident) - $32,316
- Housing & Meals - $11,476
- Books & Supplies - $950
- Personal Expenses - $3,078
- Transportation - $1,026
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (Non-Resident) - $48,446
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) in Iowa City, Iowa was founded in 1847, only 59 days after Iowa was admitted to the Union, making it the oldest university in the state. Upon formally opening for classes in 1855, it was also the United States’ first public university to admit men and women alike; its original faculty welcomed 124 students, including 41 female students. Iowa was also the first school west of the Mississippi River to have dental and law schools; to grant a law degree to a female student in 1873, and to an African American student in 1879–one of the first higher education institutions in the nation to do so.
By 1898, the University of Iowa finally began accepting Ph.D. degree candidates. It also opened the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, which would be the first university-based teaching hospital in the region and, eventually, the largest university-owned institution of its kind in the nation. Iowa also became the first university in the U.S. to accept creative projects as theses for advanced degrees, such as poetry collections, painting series, and musical compositions. As a result, the University of Iowa became especially renowned for its Master of Fine Arts degree and Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a highly respected creative writing program founded in 1936 that invited both writers of fiction and poetry.
Today, the University of Iowa is ranked #83 in National Universities by U.S. News Best Colleges. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 22,304 and a graduate enrollment of 8,014. With its 82.6% acceptance rate, the school is considered more selective. First-year students are assured top-of-the-line academic alternatives with the university’s over 200 areas of study. Iowa likewise ensures students excel inside and outside the classroom, offering valuable programs like the Center for Student Involvement & Leadership. The University of Iowa also shines in sports as the Hawkeyes, encompassing 22 varsity athletic teams, all members of the Big Ten Conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I. Notable alumni associated with the University of Iowa include playwright Tennessee Williams, novelist and short-story writer John Irving, short-story writer Flannery O’Connor, and painter Grant Wood.