University of Iowa

Located on a vast 1,880-acre urban campus in the Midwestern metropolis of Iowa City with its lush greenery surrounding the Iowa River, the University of Iowa is a major national public research institution with a broad-based foundation in the liberal arts. With its world-renowned research programs in genetics, hydraulics, and speech therapy, the university is a member of the Universities Research Association and the prestigious American Association of Universities. Home to more than 31,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the University of Iowa is recognized as the 43rd top school in the nation for total research expenditures.

Founded in 1847 just 59 days after Iowa was officially admitted to the Union, the University of Iowa is designated as the oldest university in the state. Throughout its illustrious history, UI has been recognized as the first public university in the nation to admit men and women on an equal basis, the world's first university to accept creative work in theatre, the first university to put an African American on a varsity squad, and the first state university to recognize an LGBT club. In 2008, UNESCO designated the campus within the world's third "City of Literature," making it part of the Creative Cities Network.

Nicknamed a "Public Ivy," the University of Iowa is currently ranked as the 73rd best college, 29th top public school, and 6th best college for military veterans in the entire nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Fully accredited by the North Central Association (NCA), the university offers more than 100 areas of study, including the highly ranked programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work. Renowned for being the original developer of the Master of Fine Arts degree, UI is also well known for operating the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Along with more than 500 clubs and 40 fraternities and sororities, the University of Iowa is well known for its nightlife with recognition as the top party school in the nation by the Princeton Review. Although the University of Iowa has the smallest student population of any other school competing in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, sports are another big focus with the Iowa Hawkeyes being notorious players in 22 varsity sports. Among the thousands of graduates from the University of Iowa, the most notable former Hawkeyes include author Tennessee Williams, actor Gene Wilder, physicist James Van Allen, and news anchor Tom Brokaw.