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Old CapitolOld Capitol · Photo: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Iowa City

Iowa City is a college town: 33 of every 100 residents are students

The University of Iowa (26,980 students on campus) is inside the city. Across Iowa State, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town33% of residents are studentsUniversity of Iowa

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Iowa City. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
26,980 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
University of Iowa
Residents in college
33%
Above IA (6%)
Nearest community college
18.7 mi
Kirkwood · $6,176 tuition
Nearest public university
0.5 mi
University of Iowa · $11,283 in-state
Students on campus in Iowa City
26,980
next to 76,229 residents

What stands out about college in Iowa City

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town33 of every 100 Iowa City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa State.A university in Iowa CityThe University of Iowa has 26,980 students on campus in Iowa City, 75% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of IowaLiving in Iowa State, the University of Iowa charges $11,283 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $33,371. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 18.7 miles awayKirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids: tuition and fees $6,176 a year for Iowa State residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Iowa City

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

33 of every 100 Iowa City residents are in college (IA: 6).

26,980students on campus at University of Iowa, next to 76,229 residents (dorm students count as residents)
19,101college students live in Iowa City households rather than dorms
26.2median age · IA 38.6
51%of residents are women · IA 50% (±0.9 points)
53%of homes rented · IA 28%
$1,094median rent · 13% above the state
Cost of living$1,094/mo median rentC−SafetyCrime reported to the FBICHealthCDC estimatesA−Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundB+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Iowa City’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income B+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 26.8% of Iowa City residents are below the poverty line, 11.5% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 3 points either way). 66% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living C−

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (33% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health A−

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Iowa City’s median age is 26.2 (Iowa State 38.6), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety C

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Iowa City

It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Iowa City.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of IowaIowa City
University or collegeCommunity college
University of IowaUniversity or college · Public · 26,980 on campus · In Iowa City84%admitted$23knet price75%graduate$65kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Iowa City’s median household income ($58,546) falls.

University of IowaIn Iowa City · sticker $28,596$19,930a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Iowa City: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Iowa
University of Iowa75% graduate$65k earnings$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Iowa City

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at University of Iowa, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 24%Parks & recreation 10%Interdisciplinary 10%Health professions 8%Social sciences 6%Engineering 6%Everything else 35%

Biggest programs

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness543 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services391 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out
Marketing301 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing229 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations201 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities191 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods183 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Human Resources Management and Services169 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Iowa City

Is Iowa City a college town?

Yes. 33 of every 100 Iowa City residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Iowa State. The University of Iowa has 26,980 students on campus, next to 76,229 residents.

What colleges are in Iowa City?

The University of Iowa is inside the city. Kirkwood Community College is 18.7 miles away in Cedar Rapids.

Why is Iowa City’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 26.8% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 11.5% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 3 points).

What is the closest community college to Iowa City, and what does it cost?

Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, 18.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,176 a year for Iowa State residents; the federal net price, $9,705, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into the University of Iowa?

The University of Iowa admitted 84% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,130–1,330 on the SAT.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Iowa City. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →