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University of Iowa kicks off move-in week, returning tens of thousands to campus communities
‘They get a chance to go meet everyone on their floor, figure out where to do laundry, where to shop’
Aug. 18, 2025 5:30 am, Updated: Aug. 18, 2025 7:29 am
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IOWA CITY — Despite an oppressive heat index nearing 110 degrees, with 73 percent humidity and almost no breeze, Tiger Hawk-clad freshmen and their families over the weekend unloaded truck beds and trunks crammed with duffel bags, laundry baskets, pillows, and microwaves in anticipation of the start of the fall semester.
More than 6,700 students are expected to live in the University of Iowa’s 11 residence halls in the 2025-26 academic year, which kicks off Monday, Aug. 25.
The UI new-student move-in that began at 8 a.m. Saturday and will continue through 5 p.m. Monday is the first across Iowa’s three public universities — with Iowa State University inviting its new students to start moving in Tuesday and University of Northern Iowa holding new-student move-in Wednesday.
Although some students sneaked in early — including those volunteering to help with move in or residence hall advisers — the onslaught of out-of-state visitors and trailers that typically snarl traffic in and around the campuses every August hit its stride in Iowa City over the weekend.
“It’s hot,” Adriana Quick from outside Chicago said while unloading her daughter’s belongings onto a cart outside UI’s Burge Residence Hall shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday. “But I think move-in was great. Super well organized. We had three volunteers with carts pull right up to us and we unloaded everything in one swift run. It was awesome.”
Given her daughter as an incoming freshman hasn’t spent much time in Iowa City, Quick said she’s glad she’ll have the coming week to explore and get settled.
“They get a chance to go meet everyone on their floor, figure out where to do laundry, where to shop,” she said. “They have so many activities, it's nice to have that week in between to figure everything out.”
Erin McCord, 17, of Houston, Texas said she too appreciates that week to get familiar with the community.
“Right now we’re exploring, figuring out where everything is,” she said alongside her roommate Hannah Moore, 18, of Council Bluffs — who she had just met. “We have a third roommate, but she’s at lunch with her parents.”
Although the universities haven’t released official residence hall numbers, each aired projections two weeks ago in a July 31 budget report — including UI’s fall residence hall occupancy expectation of 6,777, which is 342 more students than last year’s budget.
Iowa State in that document projected 10,350 students in its halls and apartments this fall — based on enrollment and returning contract expectations.
And UNI is anticipating a fall occupancy of 3,503.
“We're anticipating our highest on-campus resident population since 2018,” UNI spokesman Adam Amdor told The Gazette.
The return of fall classes will bring back to town tens of thousands across Iowa’s college and university communities. Although many will live in off-campus houses and apartments, university officials long have promoted on-campus living as a way to stay connected to learning and extracurricular events and activities.
The campuses offer a mix of large residence halls and smaller apartment-style living — including a range of bathroom, kitchen, and study styles and spaces. Some have air conditioning and some don’t. Some have dining halls downstairs and others require residents to walk off site.
“This will be the first year we are operating Trailside Apartments in our housing inventory,” Amdor said of the 10-unit complex offering upper division students a more independent-living housing option on campus — featuring air conditioning, laundry, a fitness studio, sauna, pool and hot tub.
Students who are returning to on-campus housing as a sophomore or upper classman are scheduled to move in after the new students on all three campuses — meaning move-in activity will continue into next weekend, eclipsing other welcome-week activities.
An annual “Kickoff at Kinnick” and after party at the University of Iowa, for example, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday.
“You will Wave at the Children's Hospital for the first time as an official Hawkeye, learn the Iowa Fight Song and some of the traditions that make Iowa such a special place all from the field of Historic Kinnick Stadium,” according to a summary of the event. “This is where you will feel you have truly joined the Hawkeye family.”
Just after saying goodbye to her parents Sunday, Ellie Brand, 19, of Brookfield, Wisc. said she feels a little overwhelmed — but does have some friends and her brother on campus, going into his junior year.
“Obviously it’s a lot,” she said, “but it’s good. Move-in was really smooth.”
Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.
Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com
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