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 public research university, big ten school, and strong health sciences. 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

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

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.
Test Score Strategy
Since Iowa is test optional and your score falls below their 75th percentile, you are generally better off not submitting it and letting your GPA and course load do the work in this grade focused review process.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What University of Iowa actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. 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
University of Iowa Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch