The University of Iowa continues to attract high-achieving students. This fall’s incoming first-year class, totaling 5,064 students, has topped previous records with an average high school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.83. The average high school GPA for the classes of 2026 and 2025 were 3.82 and 3.81, respectively.

“We’re so excited these newest Hawkeyes are here and settling in for a great year,” says UI President Barbara J. Wilson. “What they’ll find on campus are the three C’s: Comprehensive excellence across disciplines—from nonfiction writing, to neuroscience, to nursing; Creativity— we have enormously creative faculty and staff who will help students find their own inspiration to solve problems; and Community—this is a place where everyone loves and supports the University of Iowa.”

At 5,064, the Class of 2027 is the fourth largest in university history. About 20% of the class (1,034) are first-generation students, and about 20% (1,019) identify as African American, American Indian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, or two or more ethnicities. Some 2,688 first-year students arrived on campus with transfer college credit.

Sarah Hansen, vice president for student life, says the Hawkeye spirit is as vibrant as ever in the newest student cohort.

“Despite extreme temperatures, the Class of 2027 safely participated in the Block I photo and Convocation. They have clearly come to campus committed to being Hawkeyes, and we welcome them with open arms,” she says. “We will do all we can to help them succeed within and beyond the classroom. I’m excited to see all the ways they excel.”