Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Iowa #185 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,866, placing University of Iowa in the 72.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Iowa sits in the 82.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $7,723 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Iowa #185 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchored by strong return on investment and earnings outcomes that outpace what comparable institutions deliver for similar students. Median 4-year earnings of $69,866 — combined with an earnings-beyond-expectations position in the 82.2 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflect a public research university whose graduates consistently earn more than peers at institutions with similar student profiles.
Azimuth ranks University of Iowa #185 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Iowa City, IA, University of Iowa enrolls roughly 22,264 undergraduates. Retention is 90.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 74.6%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to peer institutions. The composite is anchored by mobility and return. Azimuth ranks University of Iowa #230 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $69,866, and they earn about $7,723 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Iowa in the 82.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, with Business representing 24% of degree output — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of Iowa admits about 83.6% of applicants, enrolling 18.4% Pell Grant recipients and 22.3% first-generation students. The institution sits in the 59.0 percentile for access and the 43.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility reaches the 91.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — indicating that students who enroll tend to see meaningful economic progress after graduation.
The University of Iowa's published cost of attendance is $28,596, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $15,316 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $19,930, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at approximately $26,266. Azimuth ranks University of Iowa #806 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public university, University of Iowa benefits from a state-subsidized tuition structure that keeps costs more accessible than many comparable private institutions. Need-based aid through federal Pell Grants, state programs, and institutional scholarships helps reduce the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay — particularly for lower- and middle-income households. Families seeking to understand how the sticker price compares with what they would actually owe can explore how net price and published cost often diverge before making enrollment decisions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,975; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,866, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Iowa is a strong fit for students drawn to business, health, and applied professional fields who want a large public research university experience in Iowa City, IA, with a track record of solid post-graduation earnings and broad program access. Graduates earn median $69,866 four years after enrollment, placing University of Iowa in the 72.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and earn about $7,723 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Iowa in the 82.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. 18.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.3% are first-generation students, and the institution's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students — a 61.4% completion rate — reflect a meaningful commitment to supporting students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation. For families weighing net cost, higher-income families pay a net price of $26,266, and median student debt at graduation is $22,500. Fit depends on two realistic filters: University of Iowa admits about 83.6% of applicants, making it broadly accessible, and its program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related professional fields — students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest earnings trajectory and return on investment.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the University Of Iowa hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The University of Iowa's published cost of attendance is $28,596, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $15,316 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $19,930, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at approximately $26,266.
Azimuth ranks University of Iowa #806 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public university, University of Iowa benefits from a state-subsidized tuition structure that keeps costs more accessible than many comparable private institutions. Need-based aid through federal Pell Grants, state programs, and institutional scholarships helps reduce the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay — particularly for lower- and middle-income households.
Families seeking to understand how the sticker price compares with what they would actually owe can explore how [net price and published cost often diverge](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) before making enrollment decisions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,975; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,866, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of the University of Iowa earn a median of $69,866 four years after enrollment, placing the university in the 72.7th percentile for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,723 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the University of Iowa in the 82.2nd percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks the University of Iowa #230 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 84.5th percentile overall.
The earnings pattern reflects Business's dominant role, representing 24% of graduates. Finance and Financial Management Services leads with 511 graduates earning median earnings of $61,732 — Azimuth ranks the program #29 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). A second Finance and Financial Management Services cohort of 379 graduates earns $88,229, while programs in Behavioral Sciences and Business Administration, Management and Operations demonstrate the breadth of strong outcomes across professional fields.
Statistics
29 graduates
Chemical Engineering
40 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
35 graduates
Industrial Engineering
29 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
103 graduates
University of Iowa's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 24% of degree output, followed by Social Sciences at 8% and Engineering at 7%. That business-forward concentration shapes the institution's overall earnings profile: Kinesiology is the largest program with 511 graduates, and it doubles as the highest aggregate-return major — combining substantial cohort scale with strong median earnings of $61,732 four years after enrollment.
Azimuth ranks Kinesiology #21 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The highest four-year earnings at University of Iowa come from Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, where 201 graduates earn median earnings of $91,720 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #30 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Finance follows with 379 graduates earning median earnings of $88,229, and Azimuth ranks it #58 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Digital Marketing program graduates 234 students with median earnings of $81,994, and Azimuth ranks it #27 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration serves 245 graduates. Several of University of Iowa's strongest-earning programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly — particularly Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Finance, and Kinesiology.
Programs like Behavioral Sciences and Nursing are more likely grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory. Across 65 programs serving roughly 5,515 students annually, 49 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The supply-demand map provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Kansas Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4317 ranked) | KS | 93% | $61,945 | #4317 | Compare |
Virginia Commonwealth University Similar quality tier (#4313 ranked) | VA | 93% | $58,128 | #4313 | Compare |
Lamar University Similar quality tier (#4321 ranked) | TX | 86% | $49,652 | #4321 | Compare |
University Of Maryland-Baltimore County Similar quality tier (#4329 ranked) | MD | 72% | $69,960 | #4329 | Compare |
Old Dominion University Similar quality tier (#4309 ranked) | VA | 90% | $54,914 | #4309 | Compare |
