Receiving a diploma signals both an ending and a beginning.
Top majors, minors, and certificates

These are the most popular areas of study among the Fall degree applicants.

Top 3 majors

  • Finance
  • Nursing
  • Health and Human Physiology

Top 3 minors

  • Mathematics
  • Business Administration
  • Human Relations

Top 3 certificates

  • Entrepreneurial Management
  • Sustainability Program
  • Writing

 

In December 2018, about 1,640 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will receive degrees that demonstrate years of work, rising to meet new expectations, and a dedication to learning—and themselves. For many, this is the end of the most transformative time of their lives, and for many it’s the beginning of that period.

Whatever is in store for our graduates, they leave this university armed with new skills, understanding, and perspectives. They’re prepared for a future in which they will solve problems and become leaders. And they take with them the valuable connections they have made here, connections with friends, teachers, and passions that will empower and support them for the rest of their lives.

These graduates will always be Hawkeyes.

If you or a loved one is graduating this fall, find ceremony information at the UI Commencement website.

 

Because the final number of graduates will not be available until just before ceremonies begin, these statistics pertain to degree applicants.

1,227
undergraduate degree applicants
121
with multiple majors
132
with a certificate
315
with minors
3.08
average cumulative GPA
107
graduating with academic distinction
23.1%
identify as first-generation students
30
identify as veterans
14.5%
identify as a member of a minority group
67
age of the oldest undergraduate degree applicant
19
age of the youngest undergraduate degree applicant
71
Iowa counties represented
21
U.S. states represented
23
countries represented, including the U.S.

 

Fall graduate profiles

Samantha Sparrow
Samantha Sparrow didn’t grow up in Iowa, but a specialty program at the University of Iowa brought her to the state where she’s put down new roots. She graduates this month as a physician assistant and will start her practice in Iowa.
Bernadine Franks portrait; she is a recent graduate of the university of iowa
Bernadine Franks
At age 67, Bernadine Franks earned a degree from the University of Iowa, fulfilling at 50-year-old promise to her mother.
Matt Finley
A graduating engineering student wants to design rockets for SpaceX. See why his academic adviser thinks he has the focus to make it happen.
Iowa College of Nursing graduates
Brookanne and Morgan Pfaffle
Twins Brookanne and Morganne Pfaffle at first weren’t considering going to the same university. But they decided to anyway and will graduate from the UI in December with degrees in nursing and plans to pursue doctorates in nursing practice in anesthesia at the UI.
Reid Kaalberg
It took a couple years—and two college transfers—but UI elementary education graduate Reid Kaalberg found his calling in the classroom.
413
graduate or professional degree applicants
15.3%
identify as a member of a minority group
70
age of the oldest graduate or professional degree applicant
23
age of the youngest graduate or professional degree applicant
6
graduate degrees in library and information science
24
professional degrees in physician assistant studies
9
graduate degrees in music
38
graduate degrees in physical therapy
30
graduate degrees in engineering
Produced by the University of Iowa Office of Strategic Communication