The University of Iowa maintains a long tradition of support for LGBT issues: Iowa was the first state university to officially recognize a queer student organization, the Gay Liberation Front (in 1970), now known as Spectrum UI, and was the first public university in the country to offer insurance benefits to employees' domestic partners (in 1993).

Iowa also hosts an annual Rainbow Graduation Ceremony to celebrate the achievements of LGBT graduates and their allies.

Support Networks

• Pride Alliance Center—Open to everyone, this University-owned house is an open and affirming space where LGBT students and allies can interact to enhance their educational experience at Iowa.
• Student Organizations—Joining a student group is a great way to make friends and build community. There are nearly 600 student organizations at Iowa, including:
  • EQUAL Meds (Iowa Queer and Allied Medical Students)
  • Trans@Iowa
  • Reaching Out in Business
  • Out in Sciences, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (oSTEM)
  • Gamma Rho Lambda
  • Outlaws
• Living Learning Communities in the Residence Halls
  • All-In—Explore and celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and identity. This community was founded by LGBTQ+ students with the intent of creating LGBTQ+ friendly housing options for students.

Areas of Study

Iowa offers more than 200 Areas of Study for undergraduates, including a program that focuses on gender, women's, and sexuality studies.

• Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies

Education and Advocacy

• Center for Human Rights
• Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC)
• Hawkeye Pride
• The LGBTQ Safe Zone Project
• Women's Resource and Action Center

Financial Aid and Scholarships

To supplement the cost of attending the University, start your scholarship search with the UI Office of Student Financial Aid and adding the University of Iowa to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additional resources include:

• Student Name Change Fund—The University of Iowa offers the Student Name Change Fund for any undergraduate, graduate, and professional student needing assistance with legal name changes but with limited financial means or support.
• UI Scholarships—Iowa offers more than 1,500 scholarships based on academic merit and/or financial need.
• Types of Student Financial Aid
• How to Apply for Financial Aid at Iowa

Pre-College Programs and Community Resources

• The Quire—This LGBT community chorus performs in and around Iowa City promoting a positive image of these communities through excellence in choral music.
• Emma Goldman Clinic—This clinic welcomes and empowers people of all gender and sexual identities in all life stages through the provision of quality reproductive health care.
• LGBTQ Clinic—Every staff member of the University of Iowa's LGBTQQ clinic has had LGBTQ-specific cultural humility training. This training, through the Safe Zone Project, is to make sure the clinic setting is welcoming and assuring for all patients. 
• TransVerse—TransVerse is a community support group for trans people and their allies.
• One Iowa—One Iowa seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ Iowans by protecting and advancing equality and inclusiveness through education, improving workplace culture, and increasing access to quality healthcare across our state.
• Iowa City LGBTQ Support Group—A support group for LGBTQ+ people in the Iowa City area. The intent of this online group is to share local resources for our community and host local events to create community with one another.

Contact the Office of Access and Support for information about summer programs for students who are members of underrepresented minority groups.

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