Following a high volume of applications, the University of Iowa has welcomed one of its largest first-year classes.
Published: Sept. 10, 2026
At 5,266 students, the University of Iowa’s 2026 incoming class marks the fifth consecutive incoming group of more than 5,000 students — only the seventh time in university history that first-year enrollment has topped 5,000.
“Interest in the University of Iowa has never been greater. We received nearly 32,000 first-year student applications for the fall of 2026,” says Brent Gage, associate vice president for enrollment management. “These talented students are coming to us from all parts of Iowa, across the United States, and from around the world.”
The students also make up one of Iowa’s highest-achieving incoming classes, with an average high school grade-point average of 3.87, up from 3.86 last year.
Meet some of our newest Hawkeyes.
Rhys Bostic
Hometown: Clinton, Iowa
Major: Accounting
“I decided to become a Hawkeye after participating in Tippie’s Gateway Summer Program in high school. I spent a lot of time walking around campus and got a feel for what it would be like to be a student here. After living in a small town my whole life, the size is a bit daunting, but I’m having a lot of fun so far.”
Betsy Connell
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Journalism and mass communications and screenwriting arts
“A coworker of my mother’s recommended the University of Iowa after hearing about my interest in writing. I had never been to Iowa before, so I decided to do a campus visit — and I fell in love with the university. My dream is to direct, write, or produce for film and TV, but I would also love to work in communications or public relations. I’m excited to see what doors open for me at Iowa.”
Santiago Gomez
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Major: Civil engineering
“I wanted to go to Penn State, but when I saw how electric Kinnick was during the Penn State–Iowa game, I applied to Iowa. Once I toured campus, I knew Iowa was the place for me. I hope to use my engineering degree in sports, either developing new technology or machinery or helping build football stadiums, basketball arenas, and baseball fields.”
Bianca Hutter
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Exercise science
“I was recruited to be on the swim and dive team, and I fell in love with Iowa the second I set foot on campus. I came over the summer to train and found the campus so welcoming and homey. Plus, I want to be a physical therapist, and with the hospital here and the undergrad-to-grad pathway, Iowa is the best place for me.”
Ramandeep Kaur
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa (originally from India)
Major: Accounting and finance
“I’m impressed by the resources and support available to students. It feels like the university genuinely prioritizes students’ well-being, which is something I haven’t experienced elsewhere. That’s what drew me in. I also know Iowa has so much going on, from sports to the arts, and I am excited to explore it all.”
Wail Mohamed
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa (originally from Sudan)
Major: Public health
“I transferred to Iowa from community college. My goal is to attend medical school and become a physician, and after I participated in the Summer Health Professions Education Program on campus, I knew Iowa was where I wanted to be. I’m especially excited to take classes related to my major, such as How the Brain Works (and Why It Doesn’t). I love to learn and am looking forward to exploring opportunities in research, internships, and study abroad.”
Aidan Recker
Hometown: Fort Dodge, Iowa
Major: Exercise science
“I decided to become a Hawkeye because of Iowa’s outstanding health care programs. I want to attend physical therapy school here, and knowing it’s one of the best in the nation made Iowa the obvious choice. I want to explore cultural houses on campus, check out some of the more niche sports, and experience everything Iowa City has to offer. By the end of my four years here, I hope to leave no stone unturned.”
Mae Romano
Hometown: Royal Palm Beach, Florida
Major: Psychology
“My dad played football for Hayden Fry in the 1990s and met my mom here, so Hawkeye sports were a significant factor in my decision to come to Iowa. I am so excited to explore campus, meet new people, and learn to navigate the world on my own. I’m interested in social media and marketing as well as sports, so I’d love to pursue a career in sports media. And I definitely want to get involved in Dance Marathon.”
As these students begin their first semester, Sarah Hansen, vice president for student life, says the university is focused on helping them make the most of their Iowa experience.
“It is wonderful to see the incoming class already finding their place and forming relationships among their peers,” she says. “Our entire community stands ready to help them succeed.”
Just more than half of the incoming first-year students (2,670) are Iowa residents. The group represents 94 of Iowa’s 99 counties, 43 U.S. states and territories, and 30 countries. Students come from a total of 1,135 high schools, with the farthest U.S. school from Iowa City located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
About 17% of incoming students (887) are from rural areas, 20% (1,072) identify as first-generation students, and 63% (3,296) arrived on campus with college credit.
The incoming students were officially welcomed to Iowa during Kickoff at Kinnick on Aug. 21. Speaking to his first-year peers, Joseph Mullen, a finance and entrepreneurship major from Dubuque, Iowa, invoked the stadium’s namesake, Nile Kinnick, Iowa’s 1939 Heisman Trophy winner who died while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
“When you wake up tomorrow morning, you have the choice to serve yourself or to serve those around you. You have the freedom to do what you believe is right, choose who you want to be, choose what you want to be,” he said. “I challenge myself and every single one of you to go through these next four years as a part of something greater.”
Iowa enrollment, at a glance
Overall, 23,415 undergraduates are enrolled at Iowa this fall, including 1,060 transfer students. The undergraduate population is 42% male and 55% female. Iowa also has 6,039 graduate students and 1,928 professional students, bringing total enrollment to 31,382 students.
Iowa also has 1,423 postgraduate students (medical residents and postdoctoral scholars).
This information represents a snapshot of enrollment information from early in the fall 2026 semester and may change with time.
The 2026 incoming class
5,266
2,670
3.87
20 %
19 %
17 %
94
43
30
