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University of Iowa
Most applicants get into University of Iowa — 83.6% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University of Iowa sits in Iowa City proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Statistics, where graduates median $123,676 four years out. Faculty pay averages $155,064 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 22,264 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 90.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1130 and 1320 — above the IA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Iowa's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to University of Iowa without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1130 and 1320; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 570 | 610 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 610 | 660 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 25 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Iowa received 25,682 applications and admitted 21,746 (84.7%), with 5,064 enrolling.
How University of Iowa compares
| University of Iowa | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 83.6% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,283 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $64,762 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Iowa student earns $64,762 — 17% above the Iowa median of $55,396 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Iowa prices by residency: $11,283 in-state versus $33,371 out-of-state — a $22,088 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
22,264 undergraduates make University of Iowa a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
74.6% of University of Iowa students finish a bachelor's within six years — 19.8 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $11,283 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Iowa
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Statistics | $123,676 |
| Chemical Engineering | $97,329 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $97,208 |
| Industrial Engineering | $95,347 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $92,767 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $91,720 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,078 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $88,264 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $88,229 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $86,894 |
| Civil Engineering | $83,350 |
| Mathematics | $82,411 |
| Marketing | $81,994 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,836 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $77,659 |
| Economics | $76,746 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $68,601 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $67,760 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $67,605 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $66,377 |
| Political Science and Government | $65,923 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $65,072 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $61,732 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $61,200 |
| Criminology | $60,947 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,737 |
| Biology, General | $60,450 |
| Chemistry | $60,227 |
| Dance | $60,188 |
| Geography and Cartography | $59,578 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $59,071 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $57,098 |
| Journalism | $56,933 |
| Philosophy | $56,786 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $54,530 |
| Sociology | $54,464 |
| Social Work | $52,451 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $51,679 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $51,338 |
| Psychology, General | $51,031 |
| Music | $50,180 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $47,892 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $47,421 |
| History | $46,819 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $46,063 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,192 |
| Area Studies | $43,083 |
| Anthropology | $42,549 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | $40,434 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $30,231 |
Median earnings for these 50 University of Iowa programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $64,762 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 29 additional University of Iowa programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Iowa?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1130–1320 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 83.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Iowa's acceptance rate?
84.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 21,746 admitted from 25,682 applicants.
How much does University of Iowa cost?
In-state tuition is $11,283; out-of-state students pay $33,371. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Iowa graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $64,762 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- Luther College — 71.5% admitted
- Graceland University-Lamoni — 80.8% admitted
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary — 67.5% admitted
- Morningside University — 71% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.