University of Iowa #47

University of Iowa

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The University of Iowa was established by the Board of Regents in 1847 less than two months after Iowa became the Union’s 29th state. Within the Big Ten Academic Alliance, UIowa stands as the Hawkeye State’s flagship public, space-grant RU/VH research institution. Spread across 1,700 urban acres, the university is located in Iowa City, North America’s only UNESCO “City of Literature.” Each year, UI enrolls more than 22,300 undergraduates and 9,000 post-graduates across 11 colleges. The U.S. News recognized the University of Iowa as the country’s 82nd best college and 34th top public school. Times Higher Education also included UIowa in the globe’s 250 best universities.

University of Iowa Accreditation Details

Last reaffirmed in 2009 for 10 years, the University of Iowa is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA). This regional agency is among the six recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Other relevant program-specific accreditations include:
• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA)
• Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)
• Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)

University of Iowa Application Requirements

Admission at the University of Iowa is selective with an average acceptance rate of 80 percent. For the bachelor’s in psychology, first-year students must have graduated with a diploma from a licensed secondary school. Freshmen are reviewed based on their Regent Admission Index (RAI). Scoring at least 245 on this formula is required. Calculate your chances by multiplying your ACT score by three, multiplying your GPA by 30, multiplying your core subject credits by five, and adding the answers. Undergraduate transfers must have at least 24 credits from regionally accredited colleges and a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Graduate College applicants pursuing studies in psychology or counseling must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or international equivalent. Foreign learners must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper) or 81 (Internet) though. Previous studies should be completed with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater. On average, UIowa students have attained a GRE score of 582 for verbal and 650 for quantitative. Curriculum prerequisites vary, so check your program’s unique requirements.
Before the published deadlines on January 15th, November 15th, and April 1st, interested students can apply to the University of Iowa by sending:
• Completed online MyUI application form
• Application fee ($40-$60) paid by Visa or Mastercard
• Original copies of academic transcripts
• College entrance exam scores (ACT, SAT, or GRE)
• Two to three electronic recommendations
• One-page statement of personal objectives
• English language proficiency tests (if foreign)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Billed tuition for full-time undergraduates from Iowa is currently $8,575 per year. Non-residents pursuing undergraduate study full-time will pay $28,813 annually. Room and board is estimated to add $10,107 each year. The University of Iowa suggests budgeting $950 for textbooks and $1,634 for personal expenses. Total annual cost of attendance is approximately $18,682 (in-state) and $38,920 (out-of-state) for undergraduates. At the graduate level, tuition varies greatly by program. The M.A. Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling costs $11,440 full-time, whereas the Ph.D. in Psychology charges only $8,104 full-time.
Around 86 percent of beginning, full-time UIowa students earn assistance. More than $110 million in institutional awards are granted yearly, including the Presidential Scholarship, Old Gold Scholarship, Hawkeye Achievement Award, Advantage Iowa Award, and 2 Plus 2 Transfer Scholarship. The U.S. Department of Education funds federal programs like the Pell Grant and FSEOG Grant. Federal Work-Study (FWS) offers campus employment for tuition help. Students often borrow low-interest Direct PLUS, Stafford, and Perkins loans. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission offers in-state residents the GEAR UP Scholarship, Iowa Tuition Grant, National Guard Grant, and more. Honorably discharged veterans also qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees

Across the College of Education and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, students can find six top-notch psychology and counseling degrees at the University of Iowa. According to the U.S. News, Iowa houses the nation’s 30th best psychology and 25th top clinical psychology programs. Psychology majors access unparalleled resources like the Seashore Clinic, Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Training Program, and Cognitive Neurology Lab. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, courses are engaging and personalized for a:
B.A./B.S. Psychology
Undergraduates attending the University of Iowa can pursue a liberal arts-based B.A. or science-intensive B.S. degree in psychology over four years full-time. Both tracks lay the foundation knowledge on human behavior for post-baccalaureate training in psychology. Students maintaining a minimum 3.33 GPA can declare Honors and join the active Psi Chi Honor Society. There’s also an accelerated B.A./M.P.H program available.
M.A. Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
UIowa’s M.A. Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling features dual CACREP/CORE accreditation to prepare licensed professionals with the therapeutic skills to improve well-being for persons with disabilities and psychiatric disorders. The 60-credit program leads to CRCC certification after four full-time semesters and two summer sessions. Students complete at least 600 clock hours of clinical experience with a semester-long internship approved by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
M.A. School Counseling
Fulfilling NBCC certification requirements, the M.A. School Counseling program at Iowa equips graduates for individual and small group counseling with K-12 pupils. The 54-credit curriculum spans three years full-time with 100 field practicum hours and a 16-week capstone internship. Coursework adheres to ASCA ethical standards to produce multiculturally competent school personnel. The Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education offers an optional endorsement too.
Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision
Established in 1989, the Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision program allows University of Iowa graduates to extend their mental health knowledge and leadership skills to train the nation’s next generation of counselors. The CACREP-accredited doctorate requires 96 credits beyond the bachelor’s, including teaching practicum, comprehensive exams, dissertation research, and a 240-hour internship. CES graduates qualify for faculty and clinical positions.
Ph.D. Psychology
Offered with an en-route Master of Arts, the Ph.D. Psychology program is APA-accredited for Iowa students to investigate key psychological phenomenon in research and scholarly endeavors. Doctoral candidates choose from six concentrations: Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognition and Perception, Developmental Science, Health Psychology, and Social Psychology. Generally taking five years, the Ph.D. includes doctoral dissertation research, teaching practicum, and a one-year internship.
Ph.D. Couple and Family Therapy
The Ph.D. Couple and Family Therapy program is pending COAMFTE accreditation to produce researcher-clinicians with the evidence-based intervention strategies to foster better familial and romantic relationships. Available solely in-residence for master’s-level therapists, the three-year program offers in-depth clinical training with at least 500 client contact hours. The University of Iowa also requires 21 credits of research coursework leading to a dissertation.
University of Iowa