How to apply to the University of Iowa for art: in the School of Art, Art History, and Design every art major starts in the BA, and moves to the BFA in one of nine studio areas through a portfolio “clearance” review — portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, students in Canada and transfer students

2026-10-19 · Application guides

At the University of Iowa, undergraduate art is taught in the School of Art, Art History, and Design (SAAHD) in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a BA in Art, a BFA in Art and a BA in Art History. Art majors all begin in the BA; students who want the BFA choose one of nine studio areas (including graphic design, 3D design, ceramics, and painting and drawing) and are admitted through a portfolio review called “clearance”, held by each area once a semester. International first-year applicants need a 3.0 GPA; the fall early action deadline is 2 November and the regular deadline 1 February, with an US$80 fee; English minimums include TOEFL 80 and IELTS 6.5. Based on Iowa’s official information, this guide covers programs, portfolios, deadlines, English, costs and transfer.

At the University of Iowa (Iowa City), undergraduate art is taught by the School of Art, Art History, and Design (SAAHD) in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Here is what you need to know, based on Iowa’s official websites, for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and studio areas

BA in Art: at least 120 semester hours, with at least 39 in the major; at most 56 hours of art and art history count, and at least 64 must be outside the school. It covers the studio areas and, the school says, pairs well with a second major.
BFA in Art: at least 120 semester hours with 62 in the major — the BA requirements plus additional art and studio work; at least 58 hours outside the school. Students focus on one studio area and finish with a solo exhibition.
BA in Art History: two tracks, The Iowa Idea and Global and Interdisciplinary Connections.
Studio areas (one for the BFA): 3D design, ceramics, graphic design, jewelry and metal arts, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture and intermedia. Bookbinding, calligraphy and papermaking cannot be the BFA discipline.
All students complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

2. Admission and portfolios

Entry: through the University of Iowa undergraduate application. None of the school or admissions pages we read requires a portfolio with the application.
BFA “clearance”: art majors begin in the BA. Students considering the BFA talk with faculty in their studio discipline about readiness and with an advisor about the extra requirements, then pass that discipline’s portfolio review (held once per semester); clearance must come at least one semester before graduation.

3. Deadlines and applying

International first-year: fall early action 2 November (documents by 9 November), regular deadline 1 February (documents by 8 February); applicants after 1 February are not eligible for merit scholarships and are admitted case by case. Accept by 3 May for fall or 16 November for spring. The page does not say which entry year these dates are for.
Applying: the University of Iowa application or the Common App (fall only); US$80 nonrefundable fee, generally no waivers for international applicants; rolling decisions from mid-September.
Testing: not required of international students who completed secondary school outside the U.S., but required for academic scholarships and the Honors Program. Iowa notes applicants at or above ACT 26 / SAT 1230 have more opportunities for larger merit scholarships.

4. Students at high schools in China

Grades: a 3.0 GPA (a U.S. “B”), completed secondary school and at least three years of high school coursework. Per the country requirements, the final credential is the senior secondary graduation certificate, with a core-course average of 80/100 where D grades exist, or 75/100 where they do not.
English: TOEFL iBT 80 (subscores 17+; 4.0 with subscores 3.5+ for tests after January 2026), IELTS 6.5 (subscores 6.0+), ACT English 21 or SAT Reading and Writing 540. Students below higher subscore levels take matching ESL courses, which they can test out of on arrival; TOEFL iBT 100 waives them all.
Iowa publishes no Gaokao policy.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

BC: Dogwood Diploma with a core-course average of B or 73%; Ontario OSSD 70%.
English: Canadian credentials do not require English scores in the country table, and Canadian citizens whose first language is English are exempt; non-citizens should confirm with admissions.

6. Costs and scholarships

2026–27 international estimate (Liberal Arts): tuition and fees US$35,442, living expenses 14,022, health insurance 2,628, books 950, total US$53,042.
University aid: international students do not qualify for need-based scholarships, grants or loans; international merit scholarships are competitive and many renew for up to four years.
School scholarships: for art and art history majors entering or returning the following fall; apply by 1 March, with notification by the end of March. The Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship is awarded on artistic merit and incoming freshmen are eligible; many others consider financial need or favor students from particular counties. The site does not say whether international students may apply.

7. Transfer students

Credit: at least two-thirds of the studio major must be taken at Iowa (27 hours for the BA, 41 for the BFA). Studio courses from other schools first count as general electives and can satisfy major requirements only after a faculty transfer portfolio review.
Transfer portfolio: 8–10 pieces of coursework per course, in one PDF with a title page (institution, course name, materials, year) and ideally the syllabus, emailed to the school’s advisor for faculty review. Disciplines include ceramics, sculpture, intermedia, 3D design, jewelry and metal arts, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and graphic design; talk to an advisor first about courses with a C or lower.
Foundations: Basic Drawing (ARTS:1510) and Design Fundamentals (ARTS:1520) must be completed before later studio courses.
Admission and deadlines: transfer to Liberal Arts and Sciences generally needs 24 semester hours with a 2.50 GPA; international transfer deadlines are 15 July (fall) and 15 November (spring), using the University of Iowa application.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

Choose the art major; apply by 2 November (early action) or 1 February at the latest
Core average 80 (with D grades); TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5; submit SAT/ACT for scholarship consideration
For the BFA: talk with faculty and an advisor early and prepare for the clearance review

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

BC core average of B or 73%; same deadlines

Transfer students:

24 semester hours with a 2.50 GPA; bring 8–10 works and syllabi from studio courses for the transfer portfolio review

Sources: The University of Iowa, School of Art, Art History, and Design undergraduate programs; BA in Art; BFA in Art; Awards and scholarships; Transferring to Iowa; International first-year requirements; International application process and deadlines; English proficiency; Academic requirements by country; 2026–27 international costs. Costs are for 2026–27; check the Iowa website for the latest.