UIowa GPA scale and grading policy
Quick answer: University of Iowa uses the standard 4.0 scale with +/−. Iowa uses Regent Admission Index — formula combining GPA, rank, and test scores.
| Metric | UIowa Standard |
|---|---|
| Typical admit GPA | 3.5 - 3.9 |
| Good standing minimum | 2.0 |
| Dean's List threshold | 3.5+ for Dean's List |
| Scale type | Standard 4.0 scale with +/−. |
How Iowa recalculates GPA for admission
Iowa uses Regent Admission Index — formula combining GPA, rank, and test scores. The number you submit on your transcript and the number UIowa uses in its admission decision may differ. Use the calculator above to model both — switch the preset to match Iowa's policy.
Honors Program admit GPA threshold
3.7+ unweighted typical
Source: University of Iowa Honors Program
Maintaining a good UIowa GPA
- Iowa Writers' Workshop is grad-only but undergrad feeder exists. The Iowa Writers' Workshop is one of the top-3 creative writing MFA programs nationally — undergrad English majors at Iowa have a noticeable advantage in subsequent MFA admissions cycles.
- Old Gold Scholarship covers full out-of-state tuition. Old Gold admits 30-40 students per year with full out-of-state tuition coverage. Requires top-decile rank + 32+ ACT typical.
Admit-range and policy data verified against Iowa's official admissions page.