Exploring Colleges and Universities in Iowa City

Iowa City, Iowa, is a vibrant hub of higher education, offering a range of opportunities for students seeking various academic pursuits. The city and surrounding areas are home to diverse institutions, from large public universities to smaller private colleges, each with its unique strengths and offerings. Iowa itself boasts a comprehensive higher education landscape, encompassing public, private not-for-profit, and private for-profit schools, catering to different educational needs and preferences. These institutions include trade schools, two-year colleges, and four-year universities.

Overview of Iowa Colleges and Universities

Iowa is home to a multitude of colleges and universities, each contributing to the state's diverse educational landscape. Some of these institutions include:

Briar Cliff University, Sioux City
Buena Vista University, Storm Lake
Central College, Pella
Clarke University, Dubuque
Coe College, Cedar Rapids
Cornell College, Mt. Vernon
Divine Word College, Epworth
Dordt University, Sioux Center
Drake University, Des Moines
Emmaus University, Dubuque
Faith Baptist Bible College, Ankeny
Graceland University, Lamoni
Grand View University, Des Moines
Grinnell College, Grinnell
Loras College, Dubuque
Luther College, Decorah
Maharishi International University, Fairfield
Morningside University, Sioux City
Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids
Northwestern College, Orange City
Simpson College, Indianola
St. Ambrose University, Davenport
Wartburg College, Waverly
St. Luke's College, Sioux City
St. Allen College, Waterloo
Des Moines University, Des Moines
Mercy College of Health Sciences, Des Moines
Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport

The University of Iowa: A Centerpiece of Iowa City

The University of Iowa (UIowa), a public research university, stands as the oldest and largest university in the state. Founded in 1847, it holds the distinction of being among the first public universities in the United States to become coeducational, establish a department of religious studies, and open a coeducational medical school. The University of Iowa is a public institution that was founded on February 25, 1847, just 59 days after Iowa was admitted to the Union. The first faculty offered instruction at the university beginning in March 1855 to students in the Old Mechanics Building, located where the student recreational area east of Van Allen Hall is now. In September 1855, there were 124 students, of whom forty-one were women.

Academics and Rankings

The University of Iowa offers over 200 options for majors, minors, and certificates. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Iowa is ranked No. #102 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #49 in Top Public Schools. U.S. News & World Report categorizes UIowa as "more selective." Forbes ranked the University of Iowa 155th out of the top 500 rated private and public colleges and universities in America for the 2024-25 report. The University of Iowa was also ranked 68th among public colleges and 20th in the Midwest.

Campus and Facilities

The University of Iowa's main campus is in Iowa City. The campus spans 2,122 acres and is located along the Iowa River, bordered by Burlington St. to the south, Iowa Ave. and Highway 6 to the north and Dubuque and Gilbert streets to the east. A flood of the Iowa River in 2008 had a major impact on several campus buildings, forcing many to temporarily or permanently close. The Pentacrest, comprising five major buildings-Old Capitol, Schaeffer Hall, MacLean Hall, Macbride Hall, and Jessup Hall-at the center of the University of Iowa Campus. The Pentacrest reflects the Beaux-Arts in addition to Greek Revival architectural styles and the Collegiate Gothic architecture, which is dominant in sections of the campus east of the Iowa River. Also on the east side of the campus are six residence halls (Burge, Daum, Stanley, Currier, Mayflower, and Catlett), the Iowa Memorial Union, the Women's Resource & Action Center, the Pappajohn Business Building, Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, the Lindquist Center (home of the College of Education), Phillips Hall (the foreign language building), Van Allen Hall (home to physics and astronomy), Trowbridge Hall (home to Earth & Environmental Sciences, as well as the Iowa Geological Survey), the English-Philosophy Building, the Becker Communication Building, the Adler Journalism Building, Voxman Music Building, and the buildings for biology, chemistry, and psychology. The Colleges of Law, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Public health are on the west side of the Iowa River, along with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Art Building West and Visual Arts Building, and the Theatre Building.

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Admissions and Financial Aid

For the Class of 2025 (enrolled fall 2021), UIowa received 22,434 applications and accepted 19,340 (86.2%). Of those accepted, 4,521 enrolled, a yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university) of 23.4%. The school's in-state tuition and fees are $11,622; out-of-state tuition and fees are $33,710. Forty-one percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $20,426.

Student Life and Activities

The University of Iowa's 32,000 students take part in nearly 500 student organizations. There are also over 500 student organizations, including groups focused on politics, sports, games, lifestyles, dance, song, theater, and a variety of other activities. Students participate in a variety of student media organizations. For example, students edit and manage The Daily Iowan newspaper (often called the DI), which is printed every Monday through Friday while classes are in session.

Athletics

The University of Iowa has 22 varsity athletic teams, known as the Hawkeyes. All teams are members of the Big Ten Conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. There are 10 men's teams and 12 women's teams.

Noteworthy Programs and Institutes

Iowa Writers' Workshop: Founded in 1936, the Iowa Writers' Workshop is renowned worldwide and has produced numerous Pulitzer Prize winners. Since 1947 it has produced thirteen Pulitzer Prize winners. Twenty-five people affiliated with the Writers' Workshop have won a Pulitzer Prize.
IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering: This is a world-renowned center for education, research, and public service focusing on hydraulic engineering and fluid mechanics.

Library System

The University of Iowa library system is the state's largest library and comprises the Main Library, the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, five branch libraries, and the Law Library. The University Libraries' holdings include more than five million bound volumes, more than 200,000 rare books, and 1000 historical manuscript collections.

A History of Firsts

The university was one of the first institutions in America to grant a law degree to a woman (Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, 1873), to grant a law degree to an African American (Alexander G. Clark, Jr. in 1879), and to put an African American on a varsity athletic squad (Frank Holbrook in 1895). The University of Iowa established the first law school and dental school west of the Mississippi River. Under the leadership of Carl Seashore in 1922, Iowa became the first university in the United States to accept creative projects as theses for advanced degrees.

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Governance

The Iowa Board of Regents, a statewide body, governs the University of Iowa, as well as the state's two other public universities (Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa), along with certain other institutions. Created by the Iowa General Assembly in 1909, the board is composed of nine volunteer members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate to serve staggered six-year terms.

Notable Alumni

Among the thousands of graduates from the University of Iowa, especially notable alumni include George Gallup, founder of the Gallup Poll; Tennessee Williams, leading 20th century playwright; Gene Wilder, comedic film and television actor; James Van Allen, world-famous physicist and discoverer of the radiation belts; Mauricio Lasansky, Latin American artist known as the father of modern printmaking; Albert Bandura, one of the most cited psychologists of all-time as originator of social cognitive theory; (Mary) Flannery O'Connor, novelist and author of numerous short stories; Sculptor Luther Utterback; John Irving, novelist who wrote The World According to Garp, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and several others; Andre Tippett, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker for the New England Patriots; Don Nelson, Boston Celtics star, NBA head coach and Naismith Hall of Fame member, and Luka Garza, two-time college basketball national player of the year currently playing in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jewel Prestage, the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in political science, graduated with a master's and a doctorate in 1954.

Other Colleges and Universities Near Iowa City

While the University of Iowa is a prominent institution in Iowa City, other colleges and universities in the surrounding area contribute to the region's educational landscape.

Coe College

Coe College is a four-year private college located near Iowa City, Iowa. In 2024, 348 bachelor's degrees were completed.

Cornell College

Cornell College is a four-year private college located near Iowa City, Iowa. In 2024, 241 bachelor's degrees were completed.

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Mount Mercy University

Mount Mercy University is a four-year private college located near Iowa City, Iowa. In 2024, 368 bachelor's degrees were completed.

Cost of Education

The average cost for tuition at nonprofit schools near Iowa City, Iowa, is $37,964.

Job Market in Iowa City

In 2024, there were about 279,927 jobs in the Iowa City, Iowa area. From 2023-2024, job growth in Iowa City was above the national average, at 1.9%. There were 33,751 job openings in the area.

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