University of Iowa
- 7/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Iowa City, IA
-
3.0 3 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
30,779Best Colleges Rank
#233- Size Large
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
The University of Iowa, established in 1847, is located in Iowa City, approximately 30 miles south of Cedar Rapids in eastern Iowa. The campus spans both sides of the Iowa River and combines limestone buildings from its founding era with modern academic and research facilities. As Iowa's oldest public university, it operates a comprehensive academic program with particular strengths in creative writing, medicine, law, and engineering, while housing the Iowa Writers' Workshop, which has produced numerous Pulitzer Prize winners. The university maintains a residential campus system with most first-year students living in one of the residence halls, and its Division I athletic program competes in the Big Ten Conference, with wrestling and football serving as cornerstone sports. The surrounding Iowa City area, consistently ranked among the nation's top college towns, integrates closely with the campus, featuring a historic downtown district that borders the university's east campus.
Ratings
Iowa is rated within the top 32% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 7 out of 10.
-
Overall Rating7 out of 10
-
Academics7 out of 10
-
Resources7 out of 10
-
Outcomes9 out of 10
-
Value7 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for University of Iowa within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1130/1330
- ACT (enrolled mid-50) 21/28
- GPA 3.81
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due May 1, 2027
- Enrollment Rate 22.4%
- Application Fee $40
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
Iowa Resident Tuition
$11,283Out of State Resident Tuition
$33,371Breakdown
- Tuition $11,283
- Books and Supplies $950
- Other Fees $1,997
- Room and Board $12,920
- Budget for Other Expenses $4,066
- Total One Year Cost $31,216
- Tuition $33,371
- Books and Supplies $950
- Other Fees $1,997
- Room and Board $12,920
- Budget for Other Expenses $4,066
- Total One Year Cost $53,304
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at University of Iowa are Business, Social Sciences, and Health Professions. 18% of students major in Business, 9% in Social Sciences, and 9% in Health Professions.
-
Business 18%
-
Social Sciences 9%
-
Health Professions 9%
-
Liberal Arts and Humanities 8%
-
Communication 8%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering University of Iowa are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153658.
GPA calculator: University of Iowa GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026