Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa. 22,264 undergraduates. Admits 84% of applicants.

76%Graduation rate21 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$22,508Average net price per year13% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$70,727Median earnings 10 years after starting20% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$21,262Median debt at graduationAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($21,262) equals 30% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($70,727).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$15,353
$30,000–$48,000$15,374
$48,001–$75,000$17,179
$75,001–$110,000$22,278
Over $110,000$26,721

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $11,622 in-state, $33,710 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate76%54%
Return for second year90%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$55,641$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$70,727$58,912
Median debt at graduation$21,262$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

266 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering30$80,651$117,577$27,000
Industrial Engineering45$76,637$106,192$25,945
Chemical Engineering41$76,099$99,885$27,000
Accounting and Related Services146$73,222$98,068$21,075
Computer and Information Sciences, General21$56,597$96,992—
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods209$68,531$95,127$20,500
Mechanical Engineering95$75,734$94,831$26,899
Finance and Financial Management Services395$67,881$94,395$22,500
Biomedical/Medical Engineering88$67,558$93,859$27,000
Economics94$56,898$88,644$21,552
Marketing266$60,672$83,962$21,680
Civil Engineering48$70,997$83,920$26,918
Human Resources Management and Services166$57,725$81,696$24,250
Computer Engineering43$81,533—$23,441
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing232$76,816$78,974$25,409
Mathematics46$64,513$77,631$19,500
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology29—$76,055$26,134
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions52$69,209$70,835$27,000
Computer Science85$70,437—$23,625
Business Administration, Management and Operations178$52,882$69,587$22,844
Communication and Media Studies151$47,370$69,486$23,250
Political Science and Government134$41,748$69,393$21,804
Biology, General123$38,395$69,014$23,375
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology32$43,576$69,002$26,100
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness503$41,856$67,413$23,149
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other101$45,726$67,384$26,520
Journalism88$45,377$64,108$21,500
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services79$31,028$63,963$26,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research49$37,501$63,582$23,650
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities202$46,502$63,299$26,500
Chemistry45$44,774$62,803$20,500
Statistics14$62,172——
International Relations and National Security Studies34$34,738$61,771$19,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies12$45,819$60,100$27,000
Film/Video and Photographic Arts54$30,998$59,096$21,500
Sociology29$40,663$59,063$24,593
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics43$35,221$58,877$22,875
Criminology81$43,676$57,285$23,100
Social Work43$42,694$54,896$21,375
Psychology, General0$38,474$54,438—
International/Globalization Studies11$24,968$53,018—
English Language and Literature, General47$41,897$52,795$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods133$44,530$50,671$27,000
Fine and Studio Arts100$36,862$50,617$24,250
Music63$43,865$50,329$27,000
History66$36,914$50,319$27,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies12—$48,393$21,921
Anthropology21$29,431$47,240$27,000
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other140$32,549$45,596$21,569
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas93$44,488—$26,680
Public Health69$41,739—$23,750
Behavioral Sciences298$39,798—$20,750
Philosophy11$39,032——
Neurobiology and Neurosciences61$37,558—$24,125
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft47—$37,193$21,407
Area Studies14———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering4———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services23———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics4———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics7———
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General32——$20,500
Systems Science and Theory13———
Classical and Ancient Studies24——$27,000
Data Science13———
Religion/Religious Studies4———
Astronomy and Astrophysics7———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences13———
Physics23———
Geography and Cartography10———
Dance17———
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions21———
Insurance56——$19,700

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

84%Admission rate
1,200Average SAT of admitted students
21–28ACT middle 50%
16:1Students per faculty member
20%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of Iowa cost per year?
The average net price at University of Iowa, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $22,508 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of Iowa graduates earn?
Former University of Iowa students earn a median of $70,727 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of Iowa?
76% of University of Iowa students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of Iowa graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of Iowa is $21,262. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.