Unless your UI faculty host has made housing arrangements, you will need to be concerned about both an immediate place to stay and longer term housing. One short-term option is the Iowa House Hotel, an on-campus facility located in the Iowa Memorial Union. Short-term is defined as a few days to 1-2 weeks.  The hotel does not offer stays longer than that, and can be used as a temporary location until you find other long-term accommodations.

As a visiting scholar, you can get a special discounted room rate. As rooms are not always available, you should make reservations beforehand by calling 319-335-3513 or send an e-mail to the hotel at iowahouse@uiowa.edu.  Please mention the "University Rate" when you are booking.  This discounted rate does not apply for home football game weekends or graduation weekends.

Housing Resources

While ISSS does not provide direct assistance in locating housing or roommates, several good resources are listed below. You can also refer to nationality organizations listed at the bottom of this page for assistance in finding available housing.

Your host department is often a good resource to help you find longer term housing. Some other sources of information are:

• J-1 Scholar On-campus Housing
• University of Iowa Off-Campus Housing Services
• Local Newspapers (look at classified ads)
  • The Daily Iowan
  • The Iowa City Press-Citizen
  • The Gazette

Average Rental Rates in Iowa City

• Rental rates are subject to vary in the area based on proximity to campus, number of bedrooms, and other features. Rent can range from a few hundred dollars for an individual living in fairly sparse conditions, to $700-$1000 and higher for larger apartments and/or furnished apartments.
• Utilities, such as electric service, cable television, and a land-line telephone are normally paid in addition to rent; water and sewage is usually part of the monthly rent, but you will want to make sure exactly what is covered before you sign a lease.

Know Your Rights as a Renter

Student Legal Services provides information to university students on their rights as renters, what to know before signing a lease, etc. While their office cannot provide assistance to scholars, their website still provides useful legal information.