In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Iowa
The University of Iowa charges $11,283 a year in published tuition and fees for Iowa residents, about $5,642 a semester, and $33,371 a year for students from other states, about $16,686 a semester, a difference of $22,088. About 46% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes Iowa different
- A city of writers. Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature, and the university's writing programs shape campus culture.
- Health sciences. A major academic medical center on campus supports nursing, pre-health and health-related majors.
- A walkable college town where downtown and campus run together along the Iowa River.
What Iowa students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): kinesiology and exercise science (377), finance (360), behavioral sciences (289), marketing (251) and nursing (232). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Iowa if…
- You love writing, or want a pre-health or health sciences path.
- You'd like a mid-sized Big Ten school that's less overwhelming than the biggest campuses.
- A friendly college town appeals to you.
Worth asking about
- How competitive is admission to nursing and other health programs after your first year?
- What scholarships are available to out-of-state students?
How Iowa compares with the other Big Ten schools
Iowa is one of the conference's smaller public universities and among the more accessible to get into. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is the University of Iowa's acceptance rate? 79.9% for fall 2025: 25,131 of 31,454 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 83.6%.
What is the University of Iowa's out-of-state acceptance rate? 81.1% for fall 2025, compared with 84.6% for Iowa residents. The University of Iowa admitted 19,510 of 24,060 out-of-state applicants and 4,984 of 5,892 Iowa residents, according to the University of Iowa's Common Data Set for 2025–26. Source The University of Iowa uses the Regent Admission Index, a formula that combines ACT or SAT score, GPA and core high school courses, for admission to most of its colleges. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $33,371 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
What is the University of Iowa known for? Writing, health sciences and nursing, and its college town, Iowa City.
How much does the University of Iowa cost? Published tuition and fees are $11,283 a year in-state and $33,371 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is Iowa tuition per semester? About $5,642 a semester for Iowa residents and $16,686 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $11,283 and $33,371 before aid.
Is Iowa an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, the University of Iowa is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Iowa? About 22,300 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Not sure what size of school fits you?
Lens's assessments show whether you lean toward smaller or larger campuses. Start with Lens →