The University campus is located next to the student-oriented downtown, with many independent shops, a wide variety of eateries, and an active night life. 

Iowa City might surprise you

  • Iowa City has repeatedly been designated a Best College Town in the Midwest. 
  • There's a high quality of life and the city frequently receives very high rankings in national polls. Iowa City has also received a four-STAR rating for its sustainability efforts. 
  • The city has a safe atmosphere and is a community that is diverse and welcoming.
  • Hancher Auditorium lit up at twilight

    Attractions and events include numerous farmers’ markets, restaurants, and outdoor music performances. Festivals during the spring and summer months include the Iowa Arts Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, outdoor Free Movie Series, and the Friday night outdoor concert series featuring local bands.

  • It’s s a lively place for the arts that includes the world-class Hancher Auditorium, the Stanley Museum of Art, an independent film theater, as well as very active theater, dance, and music department offerings. Additionally, frequent author readings occur at a downtown independent bookstore.
  • With a population around 75,500 it's a medium-sized town with all the benefits of larger cities. For those who like spending time in metropolitan areas, it's within five hours of driving distance to Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City, and St. Louis. 

Sustainable transportation

  • Person biking in a wooded area.

    Iowa City is pedestrian friendly and supports a variety of modes of public transportation that make it easy to get around, including a free campus bus system and free local city buses. Buses include racks for bicycles and Wi-Fi. 

  • Designated a bike friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists, it has many bike trails. Additionally, car ownership can be avoided with options such as Uber, Lyft, and several Zipcar locations in town.

Sports

  • Iowa women's basketball team cheering the players on

    As a Big 10 University, there are a variety of sports events and cheering on the Hawkeyes draws many alumni to the city. 

  • There are many options for participating in sports including two bike clubs, intramural sports offered by the University, a nearby Frisbee golf course, area golf courses, indoor tennis courts, and area parks.
  • The 20,000 square foot Campus Recreation and Wellness Center features a climbing wall, fitness equipment, leisure pool, indoor track, and group exercise classes. Recreation membership is included in tuition and fees for currently enrolled UI students.

The writing university

  • Author reading at Prairie Lights Bookstore

    The Iowa Writers' Workshop, probably the best regarded writing program in the world, is located at the University. Many novelists and non-fiction writers make Iowa City their home, and the number of novels set in Iowa City is quite astounding.

  • Prairie Lights Bookstore, one of the local independent book stores, offers free public readings by nationally known authors and poets.
  • Iowa City has been designated the world's third City of Literature by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization celebrates this quality by hosting the Iowa City Book Festival each fall.

More

To learn more about our school and opportunities at Iowa, we invite you to schedule a campus visit with us, attend an Open House, or participate in our informational webinars. For more information we encourage you to contact:

Abbi Castle, Admissions Coordinator
319-335-2773