
About Iowa
The University of Iowa is one of America's premier public research universities.
Founded in 1847, it is the state's oldest institution of higher education and is located alongside the picturesque Iowa River in Iowa City.
A member of the Association of American Universities since 1909 and the Big Ten Conference since 1899, the University of Iowa is home to one of the most acclaimed academic medical centers in the country, as well as globally recognized leadership in the study and craft of writing. Iowa is known for excellence in both the arts and sciences, offering world-class undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic programs in a wide variety of fields.

31,730
Total enrollment, Fall 2020

23-29
middle 50% range of ACT scores

3.78
Median GPA, Class of 2024
Enrollment profile, Fall 2020
Type of student | Enrollment |
---|---|
Undergraduate | 22,405 |
Graduate | 6,170 |
Preprofessional (Doctorate) | 1,873 |
Post-graduate training | 1,282 |
Total | 31,730 |
U.S. News & World Report rankings
#34
Best Public Universities
Top 200
Best Global Universities
10
graduate programs ranked among the nation's top 10
29
consecutive years ranked as one of the best academic hospitals in the U.S.

18.3 %
first-generation students

1 st
public school to admit men and women on an equal basis

1 st
school to officially endorse an LGBT student group (in 1970)
Enrollment by race/ethnicity, Fall 2020
Race/ethnicity | Enrollment count | % of total |
---|---|---|
African American or Black | 971 | 3.1% |
Alaskan Native or American Indian | 54 | 0.2% |
Asian American | 1,519 | 4.8% |
Hispanic or Latinx | 2,349 | 7.4% |
International | 2,103 | 7.8% |
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 20 | 0.1% |
Two or more races | 1,029 | 3.2% |
White (Non-Hispanic) or Unknown Race | 23,685 | 74.6% |
Total | 31,730 |
Administration
For more information on University of Iowa leadership, governance, and strategic vision, visit the Office of the President's website.
Employment profile
Employee Area | Count |
---|---|
Faculty | 3,115 |
Professional and Scientific | 7,453 |
SEIU/Healthcare Professionals | 3,449 |
Merit | 4,302 |
Residents | 834 |
Graduate Assistants | 2,141 |
Temporary | 3,973 |
Institutional Officer | 20 |
Total | 25,287 |