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University of Iowa

University of Iowa is a public university in a small city in the Iowa City, IA metro with 22,130 students and a 84% acceptance rate.

Iowa City, Iowa · Public · City, small · 22,130 students · R1 research university

NCAA Division I · Big TenEarly action Nov 2

Admission rate

84%

of applicants admitted

SAT average

1,200

combined, admitted students

ACT, middle half

22–28

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$22,531

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

75%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

89%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$64,762

10 years after entry

Students

22,130

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanEntry termDeadline
Early action
Apply early, hear early, not binding.		November 2, 2026
Rolling admission
The college reviews applications as they arrive until the class is full.		FallNovember 9, 2026
Regular decision
The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding.		February 1, 2027
Rolling admissionMay 3, 2027

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: admissions.uiowa.edu · checked September 26, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income

$0–30,000$15,316
$30,001–48,000$15,489
$48,001–75,000$19,930
$75,001–110,000$23,811
Over $110,000$26,266

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreUniversity of Iowa courseCredits
Calculus AB44 s.h.
Calculus BC48 s.h.
Biology3N/A
Chemistry3N/A
English Language and Composition44 s.h.
English Literature and Composition43 s.h.
United States History43 s.h.
Psychology43 s.h.
Show all 65 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Calculus AB44 s.h.
Calculus AB44 s.h.
Calculus BC48 s.h.
Biology3N/A
Biology3N/A
Biology54 s.h.
Biology54 s.h.
Chemistry3N/A
Chemistry54 s.h.
Chemistry53 s.h.
English Language and Composition44 s.h.
English Literature and Composition43 s.h.
United States History43 s.h.
Psychology43 s.h.
Statistics4N/A
Computer Science A43 s.h.
Computer Science A44 s.h.
Macroeconomics43 s.h.
Macroeconomics43 s.h.
Macroeconomics43 s.h.
Microeconomics43 s.h.
Microeconomics43 s.h.
Microeconomics43 s.h.
World History: Modern43 s.h.
World History: Modern43 s.h.
World History: Modern43 s.h.
Environmental Science43 s.h.
European History43 s.h.
European History43 s.h.
European History43 s.h.
Human Geography43 s.h.
Spanish Language and Culture43 s.h.
Computer Science Principles43 s.h.
Art History43 s.h.
Art History43 s.h.
Music Theory33 s.h.
Music Theory3N/A
Music Theory44 s.h.
Music Theory44 s.h.
Music Theory58 s.h.
Music Theory58 s.h.
African American Studies43 s.h.
Art History EXCEPT ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Art and Design (2-D)3N/A
Art and Design (2-D)43 s.h.
Art and Design (2-D)43 s.h.
Art and Design (2-D) EXCEPT ENGINEERING, PHARMACY AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Art and Design (3-D)3N/A
Art and Design (3-D)43 s.h.
Art and Design (3-D)43 s.h.
Art and Design (3-D) EXCEPT ENGINEERING, PHARMACY AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Art and Design (Drawing) EXCEPT ENGINEERING, PHARMACY AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Biology EXCEPT ENGINEERING, NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
Biology EXCEPT ENGINEERING, NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW54 s.h.
Chemistry EXCEPT ENGINEERING AND NURSING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Chemistry EXCEPT ENGINEERING AND NURSING-SEE BELOW57 s.h.
Chinese Language and Culture43 s.h.
Chinese Language and Culture EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Comparative Government and Politics43 s.h.
Comparative Government and Politics43 s.h.
Computer Science A EXCEPT ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
Drawing3N/A
Drawing43 s.h.
Drawing43 s.h.
English Language and Composition EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
English Literature and Composition EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
French Language and Culture43 s.h.
French Language and Culture EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
German Language and Culture43 s.h.
German Language and Culture EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Government and Politics-United States43 s.h.
Human Geography EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Italian Language and Culture43 s.h.
Italian Language and Culture EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Japanese Language and Culture43 s.h.
Japanese Language and Culture EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Latin43 s.h.
Latin43 s.h.
Music Theory EXCEPT PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
Music Theory EXCEPT PUBLIC HEALTH-SEE BELOW58 s.h.
Physics 1: Algebra-Based EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
Physics 2: Algebra Based4N/A
Physics 2: Algebra-Based EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
Physics B4N/A
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism44 s.h.
Physics C: Mechanics44 s.h.
Physics I: Algebra Based4N/A
Precalculus44 s.h.
Psychology EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
Research43 s.h.
Seminar43 s.h.
Spanish Language and Culture EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h
Spanish Literature and Culture43 s.h.
Spanish Literature and Culture EXCEPT ENGINERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h
Statistics EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW44 s.h.
United States Government and Politics EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.
United States History EXCEPT ENGINEERING-SEE BELOW43 s.h.

Source: admissions.uiowa.edu · checked September 19, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Exercise Science and Kinesiology377
Finance360
Behavioral Sciences289
Marketing/Marketing Management251
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse232
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies200
Organizational Leadership174
Accounting146
Show the other 80 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric145
Labor and Industrial Relations142
Elementary Education and Teaching131
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other115
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other112
Political Science and Government112
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management102
Mechanical Engineering94
Art/Art Studies93
Biology/Biological Sciences92
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering88
Computer Science82
Journalism81
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist79
Economics79
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other75
Public Health68
History66
Neuroscience60
Music59
Criminology58
Civil Engineering48
English Language and Literature47
Mathematics46
Film/Cinema/Media Studies46
Chemistry45
Industrial Engineering45
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer43
Computer Engineering42
Chemical Engineering41
Social Work40
Biochemistry31
Biomedical Sciences31
Electrical and Electronics Engineering30
Spanish Language and Literature28
Sociology27
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies27
Microbiology27
Environmental Science27
International Relations and Affairs24
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy21
Informatics20
Music Teacher Education17
Dance16
Environmental Studies15
Statistics14
Linguistics14
Systems Science and Theory13
Geology/Earth Science13
Physics13
Anthropology13
Ancient Studies/Civilization12
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies12
Actuarial Science12
French Language and Literature11
Data Science11
Philosophy11
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts11
Sports Studies10
Geography10
International/Globalization Studies9
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist8
Women's Studies7
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics7
Playwriting and Screenwriting7
Astronomy6
Art History, Criticism and Conservation5
Asian Studies/Civilization4
African-American/Black Studies4
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering4
Russian Language and Literature3
Religion/Religious Studies3
Insurance2
Musical Theatre2
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education2
Art Teacher Education2
American/United States Studies/Civilization2
English/Language Arts Teacher Education1
German Language and Literature1
Italian Language and Literature1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Ranked programs

Where University of Iowa ranks in the top 25 on our top-programs lists, best rank first. How we rank programs

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Big Ten

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Wrestling

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Big Ten

Basketball, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball, Wrestling

ROTC

Air Force, Army

Faith groups

Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection, Ratio Christi

Also

Honors college, Study abroad

Greek life

15% of men in fraternities · 17% of women in sororities · 16% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2022–23)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), iowabridges.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

City, small

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Iowa City, IA

182,711 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

No

More about the place

Nearest airport

The Eastern Iowa (CID)

Nearest hub airport

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 15.5 of 20

Elevation

694 ft

Time zone

Central

January low

15°F

July high

86°F

Annual snowfall

27.5 in

Days at 90°F or higher

19 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$1,050 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Public, city campus, NCAA Division I, similar size