University of Iowa

Overview

The University of Iowa, a prominent national research institution, is located on a 1,900-acre campus in Iowa City, situated along the Iowa River in southeastern Iowa, near the junction of U.S. Interstate Highways 80 and 380. The university consists of 11 colleges, with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences being the largest, enrolling the majority of Iowa's undergraduates. Other colleges, including the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, and the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Law, Nursing, and Pharmacy, also offer undergraduate programs, while the Colleges of Dentistry and Public Health provide graduate education in collaboration with the Graduate College.

Each year, over 28,000 students enroll at the University of Iowa, with 64% coming from Iowa, 21% from neighboring states, and 8% from other states. International students from 106 countries make up 7% of the student body. The university employs around 1,200 faculty members and has approximately 13,000 staff. Its annual operating budget is about $1.2 billion, and it is home to more than 119 major buildings, most of which are within walking distance. The campus also attracts over a million visitors annually who participate in cultural events, Big Ten athletic competitions, and various educational programs and conferences.

Founded in 1847, the University of Iowa has earned global recognition for its contributions in the arts, sciences, and humanities. It was the first U.S. public university to admit men and women equally and the first to accept creative work in theater, writing, music, and art as theses for advanced degrees. The university pioneered the first law school and educational radio station west of the Mississippi, broadcast the world’s first educational television programs, and remains a leader in educational testing.