University of Iowa

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Iowa City, IA

$8,073

Avg in-state tuition

$30,036

Avg out-of-state tuition

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.

Search All Programs

Work here? Claim your school's profile

About University of Iowa

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

The University of Iowa is a large public university located on an urban campus in Iowa City, Iowa. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 22,304, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 84%. The university offers 96 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 72%, and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $8,073, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $30,036.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

84% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

88% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

72% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 22-29

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1110-1310

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

30k

Students enrolled

52%

Online student enrollment

16:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

72%

Hispanic

8%

Non-U.S. Citizen

6%

Asian

5%

Unknown

3%

Black

3%

Two or more races

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

55%

Socio-economic diversity

19% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Non-profit

#4 Ranked in Most Affordable Online Early Childhood Education Programs

View School

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in Most Affordable Online Education Programs of 2022 (B. Ed.)

View School

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public · Non-profit

#3 Ranked in Best Veterinary Technician Programs

View School

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Non-profit

#2 Ranked in Best Community Health Services Programs

View School

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Non-profit

#2 Ranked in Best Master's in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Programs

View School

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public · Non-profit

View School

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO · Public · Non-profit

#4 Ranked in Colleges With the Best Return on Investment in 2023

View School

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO · Public · Non-profit

View School

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Non-profit

View School

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Non-profit

#1 Ranked in Best Online Doctorate of Public Health Programs of 2022

View School

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

54

Total Online Enrollment

15,854

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

88% On-campus

12% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 9% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 23% online

Master's Check Bold 11% online

Doctorate Check Bold 8% online

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $8,073 $30,036
Graduate $10,079 $26,026

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $950
On-campus room and board $11,590
On-campus other expenses $3,230
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $9,576
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $3,724
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $3,724

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $23,843 $45,806
Off-campus without family $22,323 $44,286
Off-campus with family $12,747 $34,710

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

28%

State Grant Aid

1%

Institution Grant Aid

62%

Pell Grant

19%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $4,178
State Grant Aid $4,729
Institution Grant Aid $10,311
Pell Grant Aid $4,375

Financial Outlook

$23k

Average student debt after graduation

$48k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

3

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

4

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

5

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Education

BA

MA

DOC

7

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

8

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

9

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

10

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

11

History

BA

MA

DOC

12

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

13

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

14

Library Science

BA

MA

DOC

15

Mathematics And Statistics

BA