Are you considering applying to medical school in Iowa? The Hawkeye State is known for its Midwestern charm, close-knit communities, and miles and miles of cornfields stretching for as far as the eye can see.
But what’s it like to attend medical school in Iowa, and how do you get accepted?
In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about going to medical school in Iowa, including where the medical schools are located, what it’s like to live in Iowa, how to apply, and tips for gaining acceptance to medical schools in Iowa.
Are you applying to other states? Utilize our State Guide series for an in-depth look at the application process in various states across the country.
How Many Medical Schools Are in Iowa?
There are 2 medical schools in Iowa. One is allopathic (MD), and the other is osteopathic (DO).
List of Medical Schools in Iowa
Allopathic Medical Schools in Iowa (MD)
- University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine (CCOM)
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine (CCOM) was founded in 1870 and has the distinction of being the first coeducational medical school in the US, as eight of its first 37 students were female.
CCOM’s mission statement is:
“The Carver College of Medicine has three inextricably linked missions: education, research, and service. The college aspires to be responsive to the needs of society through the excellence of its educational programs in the health professions and biomedical sciences, by the outstanding quality of its research, and through the provision of innovative and comprehensive health care and other services.”
CCOM uses a case-based learning approach that integrates foundational sciences with clinical practice from the beginning. The New Horizons curriculum combines basic, clinical, and social sciences across all four years, emphasizing what the school calls the “Three I’s”: Innovation, Integration, and Individualization. Students receive early patient exposure as part of this integrated approach.
The college focuses on primary care and serving Iowa’s rural and underserved populations, which influences both curriculum design and community outreach programs. A significant portion of graduates enter primary care specialties. The school also operates a branch campus in Des Moines for students interested in urban healthcare settings.
CCOM conducts substantial research activities and ranks among the top public institutions for research funding. Students can access specialized centers, including an NCI-designated Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and NIH-funded research centers for Muscular Dystrophy and Vision Research.
As part of UI Health Care, students train at a 769-bed hospital with access to over 200 healthcare specialties and diverse patient populations.
One notable aspect is the co-education of MD and Physician Assistant students in many courses, providing interprofessional learning experiences.
The school offers several combined degree options:
- MD/MBA
- MD/MPH
- MD/PhD
- MD/JD
Students can also pursue “Distinction Tracks” in specialized areas, including teaching, service, research, global health, humanities, healthcare delivery science, management, and policy.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.93
- Median MCAT: 517
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Secondary Questions.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Preference:
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 298 | 3528 |
| Matriculants | 101 | 52 |
- Note the clear and massive preference for in-state applicants. A third of in-state applicants matriculated. Even more of note, 146 of 298 applicants received an interview.
List of Osteopathic Medical Schools in Iowa (DO)
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM)
The Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM) was founded in 1898 as the Dr. S.S. Still College of Osteopathy, making it the second-oldest osteopathic medical college in the US. Just like CCOM, DMU-COM included a number of female students, sometimes comprising over one-third of the class. Today, 52% of the class identifies as female.
DMU-COM’s mission statement is:
“To improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals.”
In 2023, the college relocated to an 88-acre campus designed for its programs. The campus has LEED Silver certification and uses energy-efficient systems, rainwater management solutions, and draws over 88% of its power from renewable wind and solar sources.
The facility was constructed for health sciences education and includes adaptable learning spaces, clinical labs, an anatomy lab with flat-screen monitors at each station, and a 24,000-square-foot simulation center that holds accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
DMU-COM’s curriculum combines evidence-based and preventive medicine with components in medical humanities and bioethics. The four-year program employs a range of teaching methods, including lectures, group discussions, case studies, clinical experiences, community service, and laboratory work.
The Class of 2024 achieved a 98.6% pass rate on COMLEX-USA Level 1, which was the highest among osteopathic medical schools and eight percentage points above the national average. Students taking COMLEX Level 2-CE scored an average of 35 points above the national mean, ranking first nationally.
Average Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Average GPA: 3.71
- Average MCAT: 507
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Questions.
Iowa Medical School Locations
Iowa is located in the upper Midwestern region of the US. To the east is the Mississippi River, and to the west are the Big Sioux River and the Missouri River. It’s bordered by Minnesota to the north, Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, and South Dakota to the northwest.
The Hawkeye State has a population of 3.241 million. Its most populous cities are Des Moines, which is also the state capital, at 210,381, and Cedar Rapids, at 135,958.
However, neither medical school is located in those cities.
- University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine: Iowa City
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine: West Des Moines
Iowa City has a population of 75,698, making it the fifth most populous city in Iowa, and Des Moines has a population of 68,723, making it the sixth most populous. Iowa City is about 1.40 hours away from Des Moines and 1.50 hours from West Des Moines.
West Des Moines, one of Iowa’s wealthiest suburbs, is only ten minutes away from Des Moines.
How Much Is Medical School Tuition in Iowa?
So, how much does medical school cost in Iowa?
Iowa Tuition Costs (2024 Data From MSAR)
| Iowa Medical School | Yearly Tuition In-State | Yearly Tuition Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine | $38,165 | $58,940 |
| Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine | $66,300 | $66,300 |
View the most recent AAMC tuition data.
- Additional fees not included.
It’s also crucial to recognize that medical school applications are not cheap, and the costs can accumulate across primary fees, secondary fees, exam fees, study resources, and interview travel expenses.
There are also many other financial factors to consider, including housing, transportation, food, exercise, and events. Fortunately, the cost of living in Iowa is relatively low, particularly in terms of housing.
What It’s Like to Go to Medical School in Iowa
Iowa, also known as the Hawkeye State, is characterized by its distinctly Midwestern vibes and strong community ties.
If you like vast cornfields as far as the eye can see, you’ll find a lot to love. There are also river valleys, scenic bluffs, and both natural lakes and man-made reservoirs, but for the most part, what you’ll see is flat farmland everywhere and in all directions.
Iowa has a humid continental climate, which means the state experiences all four seasons. While this is great in theory, if you don’t like extreme changes in temperature, you’re in for a challenge.
Summers are typically hot and humid, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 100°F. Winters are frigid and snowy, with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing and even into negative Fahrenheit values. Spring brings unpredictable weather like thunderstorms and a risk of tornadoes. Fall is generally considered the most pleasant season, with mild temperatures and vibrant foliage.
Weather-wise, you’ll pretty much get it all—the good and the bad.
When the weather cooperates, hiking, fishing, boating, and hunting are all popular outdoor activities. You’ll also find local festivals and fairs, as well as the Bridges of Madison County in Winterset.
However, if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of big-city life, you won’t find that in Iowa. Think Friday night bonfires instead of hitting the club.
Iowa is populated by close-knit communities and has a welcoming, warm atmosphere. However, the culture is generally quite religious and conservative, and it’s also known as one of the whitest states in the country, with a population that’s roughly 85% Caucasian.
This lack of cultural diversity, unfortunately, also translates into a lackluster food and arts scene—unless meatloaf, pulled pork, mashed potatoes, and corn are all you’re looking for.
How to Apply to Iowa Medical Schools (MD)
To apply to allopathic medical schools in Iowa, you’ll need to use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service.
This is the primary application method for first-year entering classes for the vast majority of US medical schools. Regardless of the number of schools to which you wish to apply, you only need to submit one set of application materials to AMCAS, and the system handles the rest.
Here’s what you need to know about applying to med schools in Iowa.
1 | Application Requirements
Your primary application consists of several components, each of which is crucial to your acceptance.
You’ll need a high GPA and MCAT score, a narrative-driven personal statement, strong letters of recommendation, and a diverse and detailed Work and Activities section.
At the time of this article, no medical school in Iowa requires the Casper test. However, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine does recommend the PREview exam.
After you submit your primary application, you’ll likely receive a secondary application two to four weeks later. Unlike the primary application, you will submit your secondaries directly to each school from which you received them.
If admissions committees are interested, you could receive an interview invitation at any point between the end of August and the spring of the following year.
2 | Application Deadlines
The AMCAS application opens during the first week of May, and the actual submissions occur at the end of May or early June. Therefore, if you plan to start medical school in the fall of 2027, you must begin the application process in the spring of 2026.
It is essential to understand that the technical deadlines for your application do not accurately reflect reality. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, meaning they are assessed as they are received. The first people to submit are the first to receive secondaries, and then they are the first to receive interview invitations.
Schools can only accept so many students, so the longer you procrastinate on submitting your application, the worse your chances of acceptance.
We cannot stress this enough: applying as soon as submissions open is crucial to your success. That also applies to submitting your secondaries and securing interviews. Interviews typically begin in September and continue through March of the following year.
Here’s what you should be working on month-by-month: Medical School Application Timeline and Monthly Schedule. (Updated every application cycle.)
How to Apply to Osteopathic Medical Schools in Iowa
Applying to Iowa’s sole osteopathic (DO) medical school is much the same as applying to the state’s only MD school. The DO primary application, just like the MD one, requires your transcripts, MCAT score, personal statement, letters of recommendation (evaluation), and an experiences and achievements section.
But instead of applying through AMCAS, you’ll apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), which is the centralized osteopathic medical school application processing service.
The other primary difference is that applying to osteopathic schools requires experience with osteopathy. Your DO personal statement directly asks why you want to become an osteopathic doctor, and you must include at least one letter of recommendation from a DO.
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine recommends the PREview exam.
The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is a situational judgment test designed to assess a premed’s professionalism. Comprising a series of hypothetical scenarios that students may encounter in medical school, the exam was designed to assess a premed student’s awareness of effective and ineffective professional behaviors.
It is essential to note that osteopathic schools do not automatically receive PREview scores from the AAMC. On exam day, you can select participating osteopathic programs to receive scores. You can also notify AAMC later on by submitting a Release AAMC PREview Exam Scores form.
Tips for Acceptance at Iowa Medical Schools (MD and DO)
1 | Understand the Massive In-State Preference
While DMU-COM doesn’t show a significant preference for in-state or out-of-state applicants, CCOM absolutely does. In 2024, 101 of 298 in-state applicants matriculated, but only 52 of 3528 out-of-state applicants did. That’s a 34% acceptance rate for in-state applicants compared to 1.4% for out-of-state applicants.
Plus, out-of-state applicants need to pay over $20,000 more in tuition each year than in-state applicants.
If you and your family live in Iowa, and you hope to become an MD, it’s a no-brainer to apply to CCOM, even if it’s only a backup option.
If you’re an out-of-state applicant, know that you face an uphill battle. CCOM is a public school that focuses on educating in-state students who plan to stay on and practice medicine in Iowa. So to catch the attention of adcoms, you’ll need to make the case in your application that Iowa is the state for you.
Do your research into the unique offerings of CCOM. How can the institution help you reach your goals? How can you contribute to the school’s mission? When have you lived its values with concrete examples from your past? Why are you passionate about serving rural populations? What experience do you have volunteering with rural communities?
Your passion for Iowa and serving underserved rural communities must be interwoven through each aspect of your application.
2 | Develop a Cohesive Application Narrative
Your application needs to tell a consistent story about who you are and what you want to do in medicine. This isn’t just about your personal statement—every piece of your application should reinforce the same central theme, from your experiences to your letters of recommendation to your interview responses.
Admissions committees are on the lookout for inconsistencies. If you claim research is your passion when applying to a research-heavy school like CCOM, but your activities show barely any lab experience, that’s a problem. Similarly, claiming to be committed to primary care while having no community involvement or volunteer work doesn’t add up.
Each component of your application should support and expand your narrative without repeating the same information. Think about what you want admissions committees to understand about you, then back it up with specific, authentic examples from your experiences.
For example, why do you want to study and practice in Iowa? How have you already demonstrated your passion for serving rural communities?
The key is alignment. Once you’ve identified your core story, make sure every part of your application reinforces and complements it in a meaningful way.
Learn How to Develop a Cohesive Narrative for Medical School Applications.
3 | Close-Knit Communities and Slow Pace of Life
Both medical schools in Iowa prioritize team-based learning, collaboration, and community building, emphasizing Iowa’s small-town, Midwestern, neighborly spirit. These aren’t environments where gunners typically thrive. Students are expected to support each other, not cut each other down.
If you’re from a big city, you may be used to the anonymity that affords you. You can walk down the street with earbuds in without fear that anyone will even look at you, much less try to speak to you. This isn’t the case in Iowa. You won’t be another brick in the wall—you’ll be expected to participate and get involved with the school and local communities.
Plus, if you’re used to having numerous options for entertainment and general things to do, it’s important to keep in mind that Iowa’s largest city only has a population of 210,381. For example, Boston’s population is over three times that of Des Moines, and New York City’s population is approximately 41 times larger. Des Moines doesn’t offer much in terms of city life.
If you’re originally from a small town and love the slow pace of life, this won’t be an issue for you. But if you’re a self-identified city mouse and like to blow off steam by hitting the town, going to concerts, or shopping at brand-name stores, you may find the pace of Iowa a bit dull, to say the least.
It’s also important to keep in mind that Iowa is one of the least culturally diverse states in the US. If you’re used to experiencing many diverse cultures, note that Iowa is around 85% Caucasian.
Bottom Line: Is Going to Medical School in Iowa Right for You?
Medical schools in Iowa are known for their emphasis on research, primary care, and community outreach.
Beyond the medical program and school resources, it matters whether or not you enjoy the community and environment you’ll call home for the next four or more years.
Pros of Medical School in Iowa
- Low cost of living
- Affordable housing
- You can experience all four seasons
- Close-knit communities and small-town vibes
- Farm-fresh groceries
Cons of Medical School in Iowa
- There isn’t much to do
- Dismal food scene
- Little diversity
- No big cities
- Not many job opportunities besides agriculture
- Not much natural scenery beyond flat cornfields
Iowa offers a low cost of living, a slow-paced and laid-back lifestyle, and all the sweet corn you can eat. If you prefer a sky full of stars that you can actually see over the bright lights of the big city and are passionate about community, Iowa could be the state for you.
Read our full guide: How to Decide Which Medical Schools to Apply to.
What Adcoms Are Looking For
Admissions committees everywhere seek well-rounded, community-minded, and resilient students; merely checking boxes isn’t enough—passion and dedication are essential.
Med School Insiders helps applicants craft standout applications that catch the attention of top medical schools, including those in Iowa. Our tailored services, ranging from one-on-one guidance to application editing and mock interviews, cater to each applicant’s unique needs.
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