Updated October 28, 2026

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa acceptance rate

4,527 people applied to Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa for fall 2025 and 153 enrolled (AAMC data), so 3.4% of applicants matriculated. The share offered a seat is higher, because some admitted applicants enroll elsewhere. The school reports a median MCAT of 514 and an average GPA of 3.87 for its entering class of 2026.

Applicants enrolled: 3.4%; matriculants per applicant, fall 2025 entry
Applicants: 4,527; fall 2025 entry
Matriculants: 153; fall 2025 entry
Median MCAT: 514; entering class of 2026
Average GPA: 3.87; entering class of 2026
Interview format: One 25-min interview with two faculty (closed file)

Applicants and matriculants: AAMC FACTS Table A-1, 2025-2026 (matriculants divided by applications, the class that entered in fall 2025). MCAT: Iowa's own page. GPA: Iowa's own page. Interview format: Carver College of Medicine: Interview FAQ.

Iowa interviews with a traditional interview

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How the Iowa rate is worked out

The AAMC's FACTS Table A-1 lists, for every MD school in the US, how many applications it received and how many students enrolled. For the class that entered in fall 2025, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa received 4,527 applications and enrolled 153 students. 153 divided by 4,527 is 3.4%.

A-1 does not count acceptances by school, so this is not the share of applicants offered a seat. That share is higher, because some admitted applicants choose another school.

In-state and out-of-state applicants

6.5% of applications to Iowa came from Iowa residents, and 64.1% of the students who enrolled were Iowa residents. That is about 98 of roughly 294 in-state applicants (33.3%) and 55 of roughly 4,233 out-of-state applicants (1.3%).

Source: AAMC FACTS Table A-1, 2025-2026 (fall 2025 entry). Counts are approximate: they come from A-1's in-state percentages, which are rounded to one decimal.

Iowa MCAT and GPA

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa reports a median MCAT of 514 and an average GPA of 3.87 (undergraduate GPA) for its entering class of 2026. These describe the class, not a minimum.

What Iowa says about its program

Iowa received 3,902 applications for its 2026 entering MD class. Source
Iowa considers residents and nonresidents in two separate applicant pools. Source
The 2026 class has 114 Iowa residents in a class of 142, not counting 11 MSTP students. Source

Iowa interview format

One 25-min interview with two faculty (closed file). Mode: Virtual (Zoom) or in person (your choice). Structure: 1 interview with 2 faculty members.

Case-Based Learning exercise on interview day

Sources: Carver College of Medicine: Interview FAQ, Carver: Virtual interview FAQ, Carver: Dates and deadlines, AAMC MSAR 2027 interview report. Checked 2026-10-16.

Full Iowa interview guide with practice questions

Questions people ask

What is the Iowa medical school acceptance rate?

For the class that started in fall 2025, 4,527 people applied to Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa and 153 enrolled, according to AAMC FACTS Table A-1. That is 3.4% of applicants. The AAMC does not publish acceptances by school, so the share offered a seat is somewhat higher, because some admitted applicants choose another school.

What MCAT score do you need for Iowa?

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa reports a median MCAT of 514 for its entering class of 2026. It describes the class as a whole and is not a minimum score.

What GPA do you need for Iowa?

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa reports an average GPA of 3.87 for its entering class of 2026 (undergraduate GPA). Admissions committees read it alongside the rest of the application.

What is the Iowa interview format?

One 25-min interview with two faculty (closed file). Mode: Virtual (Zoom) or in person (your choice). Our Iowa interview guide covers the format and practice questions.

Does Iowa favor in-state applicants?

About 6.5% of applications came from Iowa residents, and 64.1% of the students who enrolled were Iowa residents (AAMC FACTS Table A-1, 2025-2026). That works out to roughly 33.3% of in-state applicants enrolling, against 1.3% of out-of-state applicants.

Compare similar schools

Confetto is not affiliated with the AAMC or Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa. Applicant and matriculant counts are from Table A-1: U.S. MD-Granting Medical School Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Gender, Academic Year 2025-2026, © Association of American Medical Colleges, used with attribution. School figures are from Iowa's own website, checked 2026-10-28.