University of Iowa: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Iowa City, Iowa · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 31,454
- Applicants
- 25,131
- Admitted80%
- 5,561
- Enrolled
- 22%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access80% admittedRanked #100 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #67 (tie), Business Programs #33 (tie), Computer Science #65 (tie), Nursing #4 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Iowa (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is University of Iowa a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places University of Iowa against it in about a minute. No account needed.
University of Iowa is a public university in Iowa City, Iowa that admits about 80% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $22,531 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Finance and Financial Management Services and Behavioral Sciences, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 76% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 10.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Iowa admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 80%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1230 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,531 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Iowa right now
The University of Iowa enrolled 5,561 first-year students in Fall 2025, the second-largest entering class in its history, drawn from a record cycle of more than 31,000 first-year applications. Iowa is an accessible flagship by design and admits a large majority of those who apply, so for most families the useful questions are fit, cost and scholarship placement rather than whether admission is likely. The entering class arrived with an average high school GPA of 3.86, up from 3.83 the year before, so the profile is strengthening even as the class grows. Slightly under half the cohort is from Iowa itself: 2,879 students are Iowa residents, and the class spans 47 states and territories and 1,182 high schools. About 19 percent of the class, 1,074 students, are the first in their family to attend college, a larger first-generation share than most flagship peers report, and it shapes the advising, orientation and support structure parents will actually encounter once their student arrives.
What GPA does my child need for University of Iowa?
64% of enrolled students at University of Iowa had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.86, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare University of Iowa with the other schools on your list
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What does University of Iowa weight in admissions?
University of Iowa reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
Considered
5- Class rank
- Recommendations
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- State residency
Not Considered
10- Application essay
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Iowa typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 625. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–28. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1130 |
| 50th percentile | 1230 |
| 75th percentile | 1320 |
| % submitting SAT | 22% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 25 |
| 75th percentile | 28 |
| % submitting ACT | 60% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • No Harm test-optional for general admission (some programs may have own rules); scores only used if they help. Superscores not used.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on University of Iowa's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does University of Iowa actually cost?
Published tuition is $11,283 for in-state students and $33,371 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,920 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,531 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,531 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 51% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $32,536 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $55 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Iowa
| Regular deadline | 5/1 |
| Notification date | 8/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Iowa?
These predict outcomes at University of Iowa better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Iowa
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Iowa, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Finance and Financial Management Services and Behavioral Sciences. Across all programs, University of Iowa confers roughly 2,308 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness program report a median income of about $65,473 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 511 | $65,473 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 379 | $89,537 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 315 | n/a |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 245 | $80,929 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 240 | $73,476 |
| Marketing | 234 | $75,795 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 201 | $96,419 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 183 | $59,491 |
Is University of Iowa safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Iowa disclosed 225 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 10.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 108 violent offenses and 78 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Iowa parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for University of Iowa
Common questions parents ask about University of Iowa
What GPA do I need for University of Iowa?
64% of enrolled students at University of Iowa had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.86, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Iowa typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 625. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–28.
How much does University of Iowa actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Iowa after grants and scholarships is $22,531 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $11,283 and $33,371 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Iowa realistic for my child?
University of Iowa admits 80% of applicants, so 560–660 SAT Math is target range and below 560 is a reach. Then check the $22,531 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Iowa?
University of Iowa accepts about 80% of applicants out of roughly 31,454 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is University of Iowa test-optional?
Yes. University of Iowa is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Iowa?
About 76% of students at University of Iowa graduate within six years, and 61% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Iowa look for in applicants?
University of Iowa rates course rigor, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Iowa a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa.
What are the most popular majors at University of Iowa?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Iowa by annual graduates are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Finance and Financial Management Services and Behavioral Sciences. The school awards about 2,308 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Iowa safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Iowa reported 225 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 10.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Iowa, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers