Your chances of getting into University of Iowa
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Iowa is 86%. Its admission rate is the 23rd lowest in Iowa.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Iowa and can you get accepted?
University of Iowa is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 19,340 out of the 22,434 who applied were admitted.
The school has difficult admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 36 percent (SAT 1130/1350 ACT 22/29). University of Iowa typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.81. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Check if you have the grades and scores to get into Iowa and calculate your admission chance.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to University of Iowa you should:
- Have a high school GPA of 3.81 or better
- Earn A- grades in high school
- Score 1240 on the SAT
- Score 25 on the ACT
- Graduate in the top 25% of your high school class
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. University of Iowa is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
Iowa SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 570 |
| SAT Math 25th | 560 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1130 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 680 |
| SAT Math 75th | 670 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1350 |
| Average SAT Score | 1240
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to University of Iowa?
Students who get into University of Iowa score in the top 36 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1130-1350 and the average score is 1240. Iowa ranks #4 in the state of Iowa and #245 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. You should target scoring 1240 or above to be competitive with most other applicants. Iowa regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1130 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students may be accepted with SAT's as low as 1020. 18 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
View other colleges which accept students in the 1240 SAT score range.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classChance of Acceptance by SAT Score
The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1240, you have around a 86% chance of being admitted. A 1240 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 92% chance of getting in.
Iowa ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 21 |
| ACT Math 25th | 21 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 22 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 29 |
| ACT Math 75th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 29 |
| Average ACT Score | 25
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Iowa?
Iowa regularly accepts students who score 22 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 37 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 22-29. We estimate the school accepting a minimum ACT composite score around 18 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 26 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 29 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #4 in Iowa for highest average ACT composite score. Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 65 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of Iowa.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Iowa GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into University of Iowa?
You are required to have exceptionally good grades to get into Iowa. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of Iowa was 3.81 on the 4.0 scale. This indicates that primarily A- average high school students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #2 in Iowa for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.81 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Iowa accepts 86% of all applicants.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022
High School Class Rank
63.91% of University of Iowa freshman were in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 33% |
| Top 25% of class | 63.91% |
| Top 50% of class | 92% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 12,835 | 9,599 | 22,434 |
| Accepted | 11,263 | 8,077 | 19,340 |
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 84% | 86% |
| Enrolled | 2,694 | 1,827 | 4,521 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 24% | 23% | 23% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Mar 1, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to University of Iowa is $40.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of Iowa and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to University of Iowa often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=153658 IPEDS survey data for University of Iowa.
FAQs
Does University of Iowa prefer SAT or ACT?
18% of students submit their SAT scores to Iowa. 65% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into University of Iowa?
86% of those who apply are granted admission to Iowa. Admission competition is and the college has difficult admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for University of Iowa?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1130 and 1350. 18% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for University of Iowa?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 22 and 29. 65% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.