Overview
University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa has competed in club esports since 2018, with affiliations including Big Esports Conference. The program is a student-run club rather than a varsity team run by the university. Its teams currently compete in Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rainbow Six Siege, VALORANT, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Counter-Strike 2. The school does not publicly list esports scholarship terms (uiowa.campuslabs.com, 2025-26); contact the program directly. Federal College Scorecard data shows an average net price of $22,531 per year, an acceptance rate of 84% and a graduation rate of 75% across 22,264 undergraduates.
Esports details verified 2026-10-10 · Federal data retrieved 2026-10-10
Esports scholarships at Iowa
No esports scholarships published
Iowa doesn't publish esports scholarship terms. Ask the program staff about athletic or participation awards during recruiting.
The esports program
- Level
- Club (student-run)
- Founded
- 2018
- Conference / league
- Big Esports Conference
- Facility
- HawkeyEsports Arcade (Iowa Memorial Union)
- Titles fielded
- 7
Cost & outcomes vs. other esports schools
Compared with the median of all 405 esports programs we track.
| Tuition (in-state / out-of-state) | $11,283 / $33,371 |
|---|---|
| Average net price (after grants) | $22,531 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 18% |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 16:1 |
Who studies at Iowa
22,264 undergraduates, shown as 100 people.
- White 74%
- Hispanic/Latino 9%
- Black 3%
- Asian 4%
- Two or more races 4%
- International 1%
- Other / unknown 5%
- Women
- 57%
- First-generation
- 22%
- Pell recipients
- 18%
Frequently asked questions
Does Iowa offer esports scholarships?
The school does not publicly list esports scholarship terms (uiowa.campuslabs.com, 2025-26); contact the program directly. Scholarship terms can change each season, so confirm with the program before applying.
What games does Iowa esports compete in?
Iowa fields club teams in Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rainbow Six Siege, VALORANT, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Counter-Strike 2, according to the program's published information.
How much does Iowa cost per year?
The average annual net price — cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving aid — is $22,531. Published tuition is $11,283 in-state and $33,371 out-of-state (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard).
How hard is it to get into Iowa?
Iowa admits 84% of applicants, per the College Scorecard.
When did Iowa start club esports?
Iowa's club esports program began in 2018.
Sources
- Esports program and scholarship terms: uiowa.campuslabs.com (2025-26)
- Cost, admissions, outcomes and demographics: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-10-10
- Photo: Billwhittaker (talk) at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Research notes
Esports at Iowa is a general student organization (Engage profile updated Sept 2025, start date 2018-08-09). The HawkeyEsports Arcade is a general IMU student lounge that the university says can be reserved for team practice. It opened in 2022 and is temporarily in The Hawkeye Room, with a move to the ground floor slated for spring 2027. BEC participation comes from a 2024 list. Logo is the Hawkeyes wordmark because the Tigerhawk isn't on Commons.
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