University of Iowa

university of iowa accreditation

Rigorous, Research-Based Midwest Education at UIowa

The University of Iowa appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest.

Ranked 89th nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, the University of Iowa is a flagship public, space-grant AAU member in Iowa City that grants 120 bachelor’s, 118 master’s, two specialist, and 83 doctoral degrees, including 39 fully online, at a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the College of Liberal Arts delivers a 120-credit B.A. in Political Science where Hawkeyes study online or in Schaeffer Hall with opportunities to add the Washington DC Semester, earn the Risk Analysis Certificate, and become ICRU Fellows. Chaired by Dr. Anthony Knight, the B.S. in Nuclear Medicine Technology builds a 120-credit, JRCERT-accredited curriculum with 2,400 clinical hours at Mercy Hospital, University Hospital, and the Veterans Administration Center for 100 percent certification success.

Online on Desire2Learn since May 2018, the Master of Social Work shapes a 60-credit, CSWE-accredited sequence for part-time cohorts of 25 to spend three years taking intensive 7000-level courses like Family-Centered Practice, completing 700 practicum hours, and engaging with Phi Alpha. Directed by Dr. Sarah Fisher Gardial, the 72-credit Ph.D. in Business Analytics has three Information Systems, Operations Management, and Quantitative Methods tracks where post-grads conduct Hawkinson Institute dissertation research for 100 percent faculty job placement from Saint Louis to Chongquing.

Other UIowa options include the B.A. in Enterprise Leadership, B.A. in Asian Languages, B.F.A. in Dance, B.S. in Physiology, B.M. in Music, Au.D. in Audiology, M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Ph.D. in Economics, M.A. in Greek, M.S. in Pharmacy, M.A. in Religious Studies, and Ph.D. in Genetics.

About the University of Iowa

The University of Iowa originated on February 25, 1847, when the two-month-old Hawkeye State established a publicly funded higher learning institution with its new Constitution. In September 1855, President Amos Dean welcomed an inaugural coed class of 124 to nine departments. In 1873, Mary Hickey Wilkinson became America’s first female law graduate at UIowa. In 1898, the University of Iowa conferred its earliest Doctor of Philosophy. In 1909, UI joined the elite American Association of Universities. In 1936, Iowa started its world-famous Writer’s Workshop. In 1948, UI alumnus Tennessee Williams won the Pulitzer Prize. In 1955, the University of Iowa debuted the Cleft Palate Research Program. Fifteen years later, UI recognized the first LGBT Alliance nationwide. In 1996, UIowa was featured by the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.

Endowed for $1.4 billion, the University of Iowa now employs 2,296 faculty teaching 24,503 undergrad and 7,663 post-grad Hawkeyes from 114 countries online or on the 1,880-acre riverfront campus in Johnson County with 500+ clubs like the Wind Energy Association. In 2019, Iowa won the CASE District VI Circle of Excellence Award for Leadership Development. In 2018, the University of Iowa accepted the AACN Gold Beacon Award. UI had Architect magazine’s 2016 Building of the Year too. Forbes named UIowa the 44th best public college and 81st top research center. On Niche, UI boasts America’s 27th best student life, 37th top athletics, and 41st safest environment. Princeton Review picked UI 16th for entrepreneurship. Money magazine declared Iowa the 136th top value.

University of Iowa Accreditation Details

On August 2, 2019, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) issued a new Institutional Status Report for the University of Iowa that extended Level VI accreditation through another 2028-29 evaluation under the 21st president, Dr. Bruce Harreld, who earned the Purdue Distinguished Industrial Engineer Award. Located 222 miles east via Interstate 88 in Chicago, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Iowa State Board of Education. The Provost’s Office also lists the following accreditations:

  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
  • Commission on Dental Accreditation
  • American Bar Association Section of Legal Education
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • American Psychological Association
  • Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
  • Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
  • Council on Education for Public Health
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
  • Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs
  • Liaison Committee on Medical Education
  • National Association of Schools of Theatre
  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • National Association of Schools of Dance
  • Council on Social Work Education
  • Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

University of Iowa Application Requirements

Getting into the University of Iowa is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 19,506 of the 24,097 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for competitive 81 percent acceptance. First-year Hawkeyes must meet the minimum high school course requirements or finish the GED. Regent Admission Index scores must be 245 or better. The Class of 2022 achieved a mean 3.71 cumulative GPA. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 480-6400 for reading and 540-680 for math. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 23-28. The College of Engineering mandates minimum 3.33 GPAs and 265 RAI marks. Direct Tippie College starts require at least 1230 SAT or 26 ACT scores. Bachelor of Liberal Studies entrants must transfer 60+ college-level credits graded C or better. The Graduate College selects students with GPAs above 3.0 in regionally accredited bachelor’s education. International learners need a minimum 550 paper or 81 internet TOEFL score. Preferred GRE scores are 150 verbal and 151 quantitative or better. Online MBA cohorts must uniquely exceed 520 on the Graduate Management Admission Test.

The University of Iowa has final undergrad deadlines of May 1st for Fall and November 15th for Spring enrollment. Early Decision admission lasts until January 1st. The College of Nursing seeks BSN candidates by February 1st. Priority international deadlines are March 1st and October 1st. The Graduate College has standard dates of July 15th and December 1st. The Ph.D. in Statistics closes on February 15th. Doctor of Medicine entrants must apply before November 1st. Accordingly, complete the UI or Common Application online for $40 ($60 if graduate). Send sealed transcripts to 2 West Jefferson in Iowa City, IA 52245. Directly forward tests via SAT/TOEFL code 6681, GMAT code 4RL-2J-15, or ACT code 1356. Fulfill checklist items, such as the personal statement, resume or curriculum vitae, 1-3 recommendations, or research proposal. Contact (319) 335-3847 or [email protected] with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, the University of Iowa is billing most full-time Hawkeye State undergrads $9,830 annually. Standard non-resident bachelor’s tuition and fees are $31,793 each year. The College of Engineering raises rates to $11,150 and $33,094 respectively. Bachelor of Science in Nursing majors spend $12,646 or $34,759 yearly. Residing at the Iowa City campus’ dorms like Currier Hall adds $11,400 for room and board. UI budgets $950 for books, $2,204 for personal expenses, and $646 for travel. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $25,030 in-state and $46,993 out-of-state. The Graduate College charges on-campus Iowans $11,346 and non-residents $30,549 by year. Online programs cost as little as $337 per credit. Carver College of Medicine cohorts pay $36,382 to $57,157 each year.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Student Financial Aid in Calvin Hall Room 208 connects 67 percent of full-time UI Hawkeyes to median tuition help of $8,385 apiece for $138.08 million combined. University funds include the Richard Konzen Engineering Scholarship, Edward Prichett Scholarship, Winifred Scott Scholarship, Duva Baumgardner Hill Scholarship, John Murray Doctoral Scholarship, Nan Borreson Scholarship, Toni Berry Memorial Scholarship, Rita Mitra Subramanian Scholarship, Phil Currie Scholarship, Dorothy Blackburn Business Scholarship, and Elsie Foerstner Scholarship. The Iowa Flagship Award gifts $8,500 annually to freshmen meeting the 33 ACT or 1450 SAT score minimum. The $5,000 Old Gold Scholarship assists outstanding undergrads with cumulative GPAs above 3.80. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Direct Unsubsidized Loan, require FAFSA forms coded 001892. Iowans can also claim the Bright Foundation Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Roy Carver Scholarship, Governor Terry Branstad Scholarship, and more.

Search 12 top-tier colleges for 320+ innovative, interactive degrees placed 155th overall by The Wall Street Journal at the University of Iowa website.