The University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is moderately difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at The University of Iowa is 86%. Out of 22,395 applications received in 2023, 19,304 students were offered admission.

If you are thinking about applying to The University of Iowa, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 5/1 and the fee for the application is $40.

Students who apply to The University of Iowa for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than August 1.

The University of Iowa Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of The University of Iowa's admissions stats.

The University of Iowa 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.8
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	33%
Mean SAT Score	1235
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	18%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	65%
Waitlist	Yes

The University of Iowa Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for The University of Iowa.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–
Regular Decision	Yes	5 1	August 1

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Considering Applying Early to The University of Iowa?

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The University of Iowa may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with The University of Iowa directly for more information about early applications.

➡️ Find a list of some top colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on The University of Iowa Admissions

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How To Get Into The University of Iowa

Getting into Iowa is moderately difficult.

In 2022, Iowa accepted 86% of all applicants, approximately 19,304 from the 22,395 applicants.

Schools that are moderately difficult to get into, like Iowa, accept fewer than 85% of all applicants. At least 75% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT or over 18 on the ACT.

Transferring to The University of Iowa

For more information on transferring to The University of Iowa, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to The University of Iowa

In 2022, The University of Iowa waitlisted 252 students and 252 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 62 eventually were offered a spot.

What Does The University of Iowa Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the areas where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at The University of Iowa

Curious about the factors that are considered by The University of Iowa during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Class Rank	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Recommendation(s)	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered

Make sure to check with The University of Iowa for more information on admission factors.

The University of Iowa 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to The University of Iowa, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with The University of Iowa's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement	–	–	–	–
Interview	–	–	–	–
Other Requirements	–	–	–	minimum Regent Admission Index (RAI) requirement of 245 for residents, 255 for nonresidents
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	–	–	–	–
Standardized Test Scores	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into The University of Iowa?

Students admitted to The University of Iowa have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.

Out of all students that were admitted, 37.69% submitted a class rank. At The University of Iowa 33% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 63.91% were in the top 25% and 92.31% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At The University of Iowa, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	33.24%
3.75 and 3.99	27.81%
3.50 and 3.74	18.71%
3.25 and 3.49	11.31%
3.00 and 3.24	6.39%
2.50 and 2.9	2.48%
2.00 and 2.49	0.04%

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to The University of Iowa directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

The University of Iowa is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 18% of The University of Iowa's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 65% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for The University of Iowa?

To be competitive with other The University of Iowa applicants, you should aim to score between 1140 and 1330 (or higher!) on the SAT. At The University of Iowa 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1330 and 25% of scored lower than 1140, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a The University of Iowa student is 1235.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of The University of Iowa students scored 670 or higher and 75% of students scored 570 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of The University of Iowa students scored 680 or higher, and 75% scored a 570 or higher.

To be most competitive at The University of Iowa, you should strive to earn between 22 and 29 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 29 means you fall in the 75th percentile for The University of Iowa's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 29, and three out of four students scored lower than 29 on the ACT.

A 22 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for The University of Iowa students. Only one out of every four students scored below 22.

More Information on Transferring to The University of Iowa

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is July 15. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in The University of Iowa during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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The University of Iowa Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to The University of Iowa?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to The University of Iowa.

Does The University of Iowa accept transfer credits?

✅ The University of Iowa accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. The University of Iowa accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does The University of Iowa accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ The University of Iowa accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to The University of Iowa?

❌ No, The University of Iowa is test optional, so you can choose whether to include your test scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is The University of Iowa's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for The University of Iowa is 86%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at The University of Iowa?

🟨 The University of Iowa may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

Want To Learn More About The University of Iowa?

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