University of Iowa
PublicIowa City, IA
Founded in 1847, the University of Iowa is the state's oldest institution of higher education. It was the first public university in the United States to admit men and women on an equal basis, and in 1970 it became the first university to officially endorse a student LGBT organization. The university has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1909.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from University of Iowa's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 22% submitted SAT scores, 60% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Action: Nov 2, 2026
- Regular Decision: Feb 1, 2027
Confirm on University of Iowa's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $22,276 more per year in tuition and fees (2.9x the in-state rate).
Business majors pay a higher rate.
Tuition & fees are University of Iowa's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against University of Iowa's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of Iowa weighs your application
From University of Iowa's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of Iowa weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Iowa look for in applicants?
Per University of Iowa's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, standardized test scores as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of Iowa's acceptance rate?
University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA admits approximately 84% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of Iowa?
Per University of Iowa's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1130–1320 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for University of Iowa?
Per University of Iowa's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 21–28 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does University of Iowa cost?
University of Iowa's total cost of attendance is reported at $28,596 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
What is out-of-state tuition at University of Iowa?
For 2026-27, University of Iowa's tuition and required fees are $34,247 for out-of-state students and $11,971 for in-state students -- $22,276 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for University of Iowa?
University of Iowa's deadlines are Early Action Nov 2, 2026; Regular Decision Feb 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of Iowa require students to live on campus?
No -- University of Iowa doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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