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

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.

Education and Advocacy

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:

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 IowaOne 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.

If you have a business or program local to the Iowa City area that you feel would be appropriate on this page, please contact the Admissions Web Editor about the addition.

Links or references on this page to outside services or products do not constitute an endorsement of any kind. These links are provided for informational purposes only.