Logo for University of Iowa Health Care This logo represents the University of Iowa Health Care

Future Students

Woman in lab

With just over 31,000 students, the University of Iowa is one of the nation's top public research universities, a member of the Big Ten conference since 1899, and an Association of American Universities member since 1909. 

Iowa is known around the world for its balanced commitment to the arts, sciences, and humanities. It's home to one of the nation's largest academic medical centers and the pioneering Iowa Writers' Workshop.

At Iowa, over 370 graduate students are conducting groundbreaking biomedical research while enjoying a vibrant, innovative, and inclusive environment. Eleven University of Iowa graduate programs and colleges are among the best in the nation (U.S. News & World Report).

Students selecting a thesis advisor benefit from the expertise of over 300 full-time faculty from 13 different departments and programs in the Carver College of MedicineCollege of Public HealthCollege of PharmacyCollege of DentistryCollege of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Graduate College.

This broad selection of potential research laboratories allows individual students to choose the most appropriate thesis laboratory for their own interests and skills.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is a critical part of the UI’s research, education and clinical care goals. A diverse student body, faculty, staff and patient population help provide a richer education for all students and a more well-rounded research enterprise. The Office of Health Parity works closely with administrative offices and community partners to foster an environment where all members of the UI Health Care community feel welcome.

Location, Location, Location

The Insider's Guide to Colleges says our campus is gorgeous, and Iowa City is consistently recognized as one of the best places in the country to live, learn, work, start a business, raise a family and retire.

 

  • Iowa City ranked No. 1 as the best college town in the U.S. (Reviews.org, 2019)
  • Iowa City ranked No. 3 in Outside magazine’s 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
  • Iowa City ranked No. 4 Best places to live in the U.S. (livability.com, 2019)
  • Iowa City named one of America’s Best Adventure Towns (National Geographic)
  • Iowa has the Nation’s Highest Literacy Rate at 99% (Iowa Official Register)
     

University of Iowa Firsts

  • First public university in Iowa, founded in 1847
  • First U.S. public university to admit women and men on an equal basis when doors opened in 1855
  • First university to accept creative work in the arts in lieu of a written thesis
  • First public university in the country to grant a law degree to a woman (Mary B. Hickey Wilkinson, 1873) and to an African American (G. Alexander Clark, 1870)
  • First U.S. public university to play an African American on a varsity athletic squad (Frank Kinney Holbrook, 1895)
  • Home to the first daily campus newspaper west of the Mississippi (1901) and the first female college newspaper editor (1907)
  • First university to devote a program to rehabilitating childrenwith disabilities
  • First tax-supported college to establish a school of religion
  • First American university to broadcast television, and a pioneer in developing educational TV (1933)
  • First Big Ten institution to appoint an African American to an administrative vice president post (Philip Hubbard, 1966)
  • First state university to officially recognize a gay student organization (1970), offer insurance to employees’ domestic partners (1993), and include optional questions about sexual orientation and gender identity on the application for admission