Since its founding in February 1847, the University of Iowa has nurtured the creative spark of experimentation and has been dedicated to learning, discovery, health, and culture.

Story: UI Office of Strategic Communication
Published: Jan. 13, 2022
 

For the past 175 years, the University of Iowa has delivered life-changing experiences in education, scholarship, athletics, and health care, and a source of pride for the people of Iowa and beyond.

The university’s history includes myriad academic milestones: the first state institution of higher learning to admit women and men on an equal basis (1860); the establishment of the oldest law school west of the Mississippi (1865); the nation’s first Masters of Fine Arts awarded to three Iowa students (1940); and, more recently, the establishment of an undergraduate screenwriting degree program to foster the next wave of storytellers on the big and small screens (2019).

While much has changed over 175 years, the university’s mission remains the same: educating Iowa’s best and brightest undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to serve our communities.

Since its inception, Iowa has conferred more than 417,000 degrees — the exact number, and a breakdown of degree categories, can be found in the graphic below.

(The counts reflect data as of Nov. 29, 2021.)

Celebrating our 175th

February 2022 marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the University of Iowa. Join us in reflecting on our history while looking toward the future.

417,869

total degrees

261,527

baccalaureate degrees

119,232

advanced degrees

37,110

professional degrees

14,107

Doctor of Medicine

12,678

Juris Doctor

11,752

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

11,118

Master of Business Administration

7,512

Doctor of Dental Surgery

6,762

Master of Fine Arts

4,376

Master of Social Work

2,613

Doctor of Pharmacy

903

Master of Public Health

Great stories happen at Iowa

keys on a typewriter

The first and best home for writers

The UI is home to many renowned programs for aspiring writers and is a place where all students are afforded opportunities to improve their writing or weave it into their studies.
a woman in a lab using a microscope

Igniting a passion for research and discovery

Undergraduate students at the University of Iowa not only have plentiful opportunities to work alongside faculty researchers, they make important contributions to science.
photo of carver-hawkeye arena with a logo marking 50 years of women's athletics at the university of iowa

The first 50 form a strong foundation

Fifty years after the University of Iowa elevated 12 women’s club sports to varsity status, the Hawkeye community will celebrate all that has been accomplished, but also look toward the next 50 years.