University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is one of America's premier public research universities.

Founded in 1847, it is the state's oldest institution of higher education and is located alongside the picturesque Iowa River in Iowa City.

A member of the Association of American Universities since 1909 and the Big Ten Conference since 1899, the University of Iowa is home to one of the most acclaimed academic medical centers in the country, as well as globally recognized leadership in the study and craft of writing. Iowa is known for excellence in both the arts and sciences, offering world-class undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic programs in a wide variety of fields.

As a top public research university, Iowa continues to lead. View our latest rankings.

Upon its founding in 1847, the University of Iowa was entrusted by the state legislature with a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service. In pursuing that mission today, the university

The University of Iowa will be the destination of first choice for talented students, faculty, and staff from wide ranging backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints, who will craft new chapters of exploration, discovery, creation, and engagement. Together, we will advance the university’s standing as one of the most distinguished public flagship universities in the country.

Our core values frame both who we are and who we aspire to be as a university community. As we plan, set priorities, and make daily decisions about how to carry out our mission, we are guided by these five interdependent commitments:

We are dedicated to pursuing new knowledge and artistic creation and using those discoveries to have a transformative impact on our state and in our local, national, and global communities.