Overview
Enrollment
Best Colleges Rank
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
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Iowa is rated within the top 32% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 7 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for University of Iowa within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#225 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#54 in Best Public Colleges in the U.S.
#3 in Best Colleges in Iowa
#1 in Best Public Colleges in Iowa
#298 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#10 in Best Value Colleges in Iowa
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1130/1320 |
| ACT | 22/28 |
| GPA | 3.81 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | May 1, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $40 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Iowa Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $950 |
| Other Fees | $1,948 |
| Room and Board | $12,616 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,066 |
| Total One Year Cost | $28,596 |
Out of State Resident Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $950 |
| Other Fees | $1,948 |
| Room and Board | $12,616 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $4,066 |
| Total One Year Cost | $50,559 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Business | 18% |
| Social Sciences | 9% |
| Health Professions | 9% |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 8% |
| Communication | 8% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Iowa are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153658 IPEDS survey data for University of Iowa.
Current students may use the University of Iowa GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025