University of Iowa Review

The University of Iowa is a public research school located in the small town of Iowa City, in the southeastern part of the state. Its most well-known programs fall into the fields of nursing, business, pharmacy, medicine and creative writing.

University of Iowa Overview

When it was founded in 1847, the University of Iowa was the first public school in the state. Its student population has since risen from 124 to 29,000 individuals. In addition to liberal arts programs, the school offers several pre-professional academic programs, including those related to law, medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, business and engineering. Nearly 79% of Iowa's dentists and 50% of Iowa's physicians are graduates of the university.

The University of Iowa is considered a Public Ivy school, or a school that provides an Ivy League education at public school rates. The university was listed as the 29th best public school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report in 2010. That same publication also lists 21 of the University of Iowa's graduate programs as among the top ten in the country in their disciplines.

Admissions and Enrollment Overview

Most first-year students enrolling at the University of Iowa are accepted into either the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences or the College of Engineering. These colleges require that applicants complete their Regent Admission Index (RAI) score, which helps determine whether or not they'll be accepted. The RAI takes into account high school rankings, ACT test scores, high school grade point average and the number of core high school courses completed.

Campus Facilities and Learning Environment

The main campus of the University of Iowa is located in the center of Iowa City and is divided into western and eastern portions by the Iowa River, which flows right down its middle. In addition to nearly 120 academic and administrative buildings, the campus is home to six different museums, including a medical museum, an art museum, a museum of natural history and an athletic hall of fame museum.

The University of Iowa boasts 1,700 faculty members and 13,000 staff members. The student-to-faculty ratio at the school is 15:1. Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to participate in research projects on campus, and the university is home to both the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop and innovative honors programs.

College Divisions at the University of Iowa

  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • College of Dentistry
  • College of Pharmacy
  • Tippie College of Business
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering
  • Graduate College
  • College of Nursing
  • College of Law
  • Carver College of Medicine
  • College of Public Health
  • University College

Contact Information

  • Address: 101 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
  • Phone Number: (319) 335-3500