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Summary
University of Iowa is a public institution that was founded in 1847. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,176, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,880 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Iowa's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 71. Its in-state tuition and fees are $7,765 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $25,099 (2011-12).
With slightly more than 20,000 undergraduates, the University of Iowa has the smallest student population of any other school competing in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. Even so, Iowa offers top-notch academic programming in more than 100 areas. Students looking to hone their leadership skills have many options, too: They can enroll in the LeaderShape Institute, a six-day getaway workshop; attend the Leadership Development Series, which meets three times a semester; or participate in the Leadership Development Conference, an annual one-day workshop. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, but more than 90 percent choose to do so. Campus life may pose a challenge to tobacco users, as Iowa is a smoke-free campus. Students have more than 500 clubs and organizations from which to choose, and close to 10 percent of students go Greek as members of the school’s 40 fraternities and sororities. Sports are another big focus of campus life; even in the competitive Big Ten, the Iowa Hawkeyes are notorious players. Four blocks from campus is Iowa City, a Midwestern metropolis that has been recognized among the nation’s best for its scenery, greenery, and sustainable energy efforts.
The University of Iowa has many well-ranked graduate programs, including degrees offered through its College of Law, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Henry B. Tippie School of Management, and College of Education. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is the only teaching hospital enter in the state, and is a very highly ranked facility to boot. Famous Iowa alumni include George Gallup, founder of the public opinion Gallup Poll; George Nissen, inventor of the trampoline; and Diablo Cody, film script author of Juno and Jennifer’s Body. Actor Ashton Kutcher was briefly a Hawkeye who studied biomedical engineering before a modeling agent spotted him.
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The University of Iowa is a major national research university with a broad-based liberal arts foundation. Founded in 1847 as Iowa's first public institution of higher education, it has won international recognition for its wealth of achievements in the arts, sciences, and humanities and offers several top-ranking programs. The University is composed of eleven colleges, the largest of which is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, enrolling most of Iowa's undergraduates. The Henry B. Tippie College of Business, the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, and the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Law, Nursing, and Pharmacy enroll undergraduates, and, with the Colleges of Dentistry and Public Health, provide graduate education in conjunction with the Graduate College. Located in one of four cities in the world designated a City of Literature by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Iowa is home to the world-renowned Writers' Workshop, International Writing Program, and the Playwrights Workshop. Its research programs in genetics, hydraulics, and speech and hearing are world-renowned, and it operates one of the country's most advanced and comprehensive university-owned teaching hospitals. The University of Iowa enrolls more than 30,000 students, yet 79 percent of its undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Students can chose from more than 100 areas of study and nearly 500 student groups. More than 1,200 students studied abroad last year, programs range from one year to a few weeks in length. A University-wide honors program is dedicated to advancing Iowa's best students and the Center for Research by Undergraduates helps students connect with mentors and research opportunities in every discipline, while the Leadership Development Program offers leadership training, education, and development opportunities. Sports fans enjoy Big Ten and NCAA Division I athletics for 22 Hawkeye varsity squads and more than 170 home events each year. Recreation facilities, including a new $69-million 215,000-square-foot Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, offer opportunities to swim, run, lift weights, climb, and more. The picturesque campus is adjacent to downtown Iowa City, home to numerous coffee houses, dance clubs, and a wide variety of restaurants along with art galleries, clothing boutiques, and other local shops. Other entertainment options on- and off-campus include live music, theater, dance, readings by famous authors and poets, and film screenings at a student-run cinema. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1847 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $928,388,000 |
Applying
When applying to University of Iowa, it's important to note the application deadline is April 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due April 1. The application fee at University of Iowa is $40. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 83.8 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 84% |
| Application deadline | April 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | April 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Iowa is 16:1, and the school has 49.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Iowa include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities; Social Sciences; and Health Professions and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 83.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 16:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 44% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
University of Iowa has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,176, with a gender distribution of 48.1 percent male students and 51.9 percent female students. 30.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 70.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Iowa is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Iowa.
| Total enrollment | 29,518 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Iowa offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Iowa also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at University of Iowa.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Iowa, 49.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,460.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $7,765 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $25,099 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $8,750 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
