As a graduate student, there is more to life than just academics. Iowa City provides students with many opportunituies to build a great quality of life. Home to more than 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students and some of the nation's top scholars and researchers, the University of Iowa is a major research university and consistently ranks as one of the most livable towns in the United States.
Housing, transportation, and parking overview.
The Area
The heart of downtown Iowa City and the center of the campus are on the same street. And just blocks away are a world class-hospital, a Big Ten athletics stadium, and a museum. With a population of 74,596, Iowa City is big enough to not to feel overcrowded, but small enough to get where you need to go within 15 minutes. The campus is walking and biking friendly, and a cambus also runs daily. Not to mention, the breathtaking views of the state's first capitol building.
Home of the Hawkeyes
The community of Iowa City supports the University of Iowa Hawkeyes' 24 Big Ten athletic teams along with the facilities where they play. This creates memorable experiences for the community, fans and students. Kinnick Statium and Carver Hawkeye Arena are where you need to go to feel the energy of Hawkeye athletics: there is no way to describe it, you have to feel it for yourself! "The Wave," a national phenomenon at Kinnick Statium, represents the genuine kindness and sense of community that Iowa City has to offer.
Culture
From murals to museums, to literature and live music, Iowa City offers a culture unlike any other. Check out the connections you can make through the Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Galleries
Literature
- Prairie Lights
- Iowa Writers' Library, Coralville Pubic Library
- Iowa City Public Library
Live Music and and Theatre
Annual Events
The biggest night event in Iowa City, this all age event allows for locals to enjoy music acts, ping pong tables, giant jenga, sand volleyball, silent disco, and more.
Concert series, arts, jazz, soul and blues, movies, markets and more.
City's premier outdoor food festival showcasing samples of restaurants downtown.
Our Track Record
- #1 Best College Town in America, according to reviews.org, 2019.
- #4 Best Places to Live, as seen in Livability.com
- One of two UNESCO Cities of Literature in the U.S., as designated by UNESCO in 2019.
- #3 Best Recreation Center on any campus in the nation, bestcollegereviews.org
- #34 Best Public University, as stated by U.S. News & World Report.
- University of Iowa is ranked among the top 1% of Universities worldwide, Center for World University Rankings
- 15:1 Student-to-Faculty ratio