About

About University of Iowa

public research universitybig ten schoolstrong health sciencestest optional admissionshigh acceptance rate

University of Iowa is a public research university in Iowa City, IA, known for its big ten school, strong health sciences, and test optional admissions. With an acceptance rate of 86%, UI is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 5,178 students each year. UI is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1130–1320, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. UI offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $5,932 per year; the sticker price of $48,321 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

University of Iowa acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

86%
Overall Accept Rate
3.75
Typical Admitted GPA
1225
Median Admitted SAT
GPATypical admitted range: 3.50 – 4.00 unweighted

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SATSubmitted score range: 1130 – 1320 (test optional)

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of Iowa

Application Strategy
Iowa's admissions process is heavily GPA and course rigor focused since essays and demonstrated interest carry almost no weight. Make sure your transcript shows a consistent upward trend or steady strong performance, because that is what reviewers are centering their decisions on.

Financial Aid & Cost

What University of Iowa actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceAvg. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$48k/yr$15.3k
30k-48k~$48k/yr$15.5k
48k-75k~$48k/yr$19.9k
75k-110k~$48k/yr$23.8k
110k+~$48k/yr$26.3k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

73%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$53k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
16:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
20,363
Undergrad Enrollment

Student Body

Student body composition

Race & Ethnicity

74%White
9%Hispanic
4%Asian
4%Unknown / Unreported
4%Two or More Races
3%Black / African American
1%International
0%American Indian / AK Native
Gender43% Men · 57% Women
Citizenship / Immigration Status99% Citizens and Immigrants · 1% International
UI, Iowa City Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch