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University of Iowa
- Diversity

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University of Iowa - Diversity - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Diversity

B-
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 2%
Asian American 4%
Hispanic 3%
International 4%
Native American 0%
White 82%
Unknown 5%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 54%
Common States of Residence
  • California
  • Foreign countries
  • Illinois
  • Minnesota
  • Wisconsin
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 1%
18-19: 32%
20-21: 33%
22-24: 19%
25+: 16%
Female Faculty 37%
Male Faculty 63%
Faculty Diversity African American: 2%
Asian American: 9%
Hispanic: 3%
International: 12%
Native American: 0%
White: 72%
Unknown: 2%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

This is Iowa—it’s not exactly the diversity capital of the country, and UI is a reflection of its state in terms of the abundant amount of middle-class white students. This is not to say, however, that the University is completely lacking in diversity. Over the past few years, UI has been making more of an effort to bring in different types of students from different settings. There are many clubs and organizations for minorities to become involved in, and these groups work to create a community among people from a broad range of backgrounds. Diversity is always a concern among the student body, as well. A major issue when finding a provost in 2008 was how he or she would bring more diversity to the UI, and it has also been an issue in student government elections.

With the strong commitment to diversity from the UI faculty and students, things are improving at the University. The biggest problem current students face is the natural tendency for people to stick with others of the same background. Whether by choice or not, this tends to impose a degree of self-segregation. In addition to racial and ethnic diversity, UI tries to encourage diversity of ideas. The ideal at UI is for nobody to feel left out because of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or economic background. Overall, Iowa does have marked diversity issues, but the situation seems to be improving, thanks to a commitment to change.

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Iowa Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at University of Iowa

ginger5

Nursing '15

2.3
C

Not Very Diverse

Iowa is very white, though there are a lot of Asian international students, and other minorities as well. Iowa is very accepting of sexual orientation and has a flourishing gay community. Most students that affiliate with politics are liberal and most students probably come from a Christian background but aren't religious.

May 28, 2012

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Diversity at University of Iowa

mjmiller

Elementary Education '14

3.5
B

Satisfactory

The University of Iowa really tries to appeal to all students of all race, ethnicities and religious backgrounds. Although they make the diversity sound and look great, after talking to a few current racially diverse students, they don't agree. The University tries very hard and it is not overwhelmed by White (Non-hispanic), but I think some students are still dissatisfied.

May 10, 2012

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Diversity at University of Iowa

jackiesswim

Finance and Accounting '15

4.2
A-

Asian

We have an overwhelming Asian population. In math and business classes I would say the ratio of white to Asian students is 1:3. There is a lot of diversity on campus.

Apr 21, 2012

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Page 1 of 9
User rating for University of Iowa - Diversity is 3.5 out of 5 based on 27 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

There is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender student association, which works to promote tolerance and diversity around campus and sponsors many different events for students to take part in.

Political Activity

Political activity is pretty strong at the UI. The College Republicans and University Democrats are both active on campus, and there are many smaller political groups, as well.

Economic Status

A majority of students come from middle-class or upper-middle-class backgrounds. Many come from the suburbs or larger cities, such as Chicago or Des Moines. Because the UI is so large, there is a good mix of people from different economic backgrounds.

Most Common Religions

Iowa is a mostly white campus, so the most common religion is Christianity. There are a lot of churches close to campus. After that, Judaism is prominent, and there is a temple near campus.

Minority Clubs on Campus

There are around 60 clubs specifically geared toward minority students, with a range of interests and activities relating to many different groups. These are primarily social groups, however, and rarely participate in radical activism.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Kelly McPhee
Hometown
Naperville, IL
Major
Journalism

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.