University of Iowa undergraduates who want to become doctors, dentists, pharmacists or veterinarians now have a guaranteed interview at Midwestern University's Downers Grove campus under a new agreement announced Monday, Aug. 24.
The deal goes further for some programs: qualified Iowa applicants will receive guaranteed acceptance into select graduate degrees through Midwestern University's College of Graduate Studies and the College of Health Sciences' Nurse Anesthesia Program, skipping the competitive admissions pool entirely if they meet academic benchmarks.
The agreement takes effect with the class entering in fall 2027.
Midwestern University Provost Y. Gloria Yueh called the partnership a pathway for high-achieving Iowa students into healthcare careers, saying it reflects both institutions' commitment to preparing future leaders in human and animal healthcare, according to the university's announcement.
What it covers
Guaranteed interviews apply to Midwestern's programs in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, veterinary medicine and other health sciences disciplines at both the Downers Grove and Glendale, Arizona, campuses.
To qualify, Iowa students must complete prerequisite coursework, maintain program-specific cumulative and science GPAs, pass required standardized tests such as the MCAT, OAT or DAT, meet technical standards and log healthcare or shadowing experience before enrolling.
A guaranteed interview does not guarantee admission into the professional program, according to Midwestern's articulation agreements page. Students must still meet all application deadlines.
Growing pipeline
The University of Iowa agreement is the latest in a string of partnerships Midwestern has built to feed its graduate programs. The university's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine page lists articulation agreements with about a dozen schools, including Benedictine University, Northern Illinois University, Lake Forest College and Wheaton College.
The most recent prior deal, with the University of New Haven, took effect for fall 2026 matriculants and offered a similar structure of guaranteed interviews plus guaranteed admission to certain graduate studies programs.
University of Iowa Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel said the partnership creates additional opportunities for Iowa students to pursue advanced professional education, adding that it builds on the university's existing strength in health sciences.
Iowa enrolled 31,563 students for fall 2025, including 23,407 undergraduates, according to university data. Midwestern's Downers Grove campus graduated 707 master's and doctoral recipients across six commencement ceremonies May 28–29, 2026.
What families should know
Downers Grove-area students currently at Iowa or planning to attend can use the agreement as a defined roadmap into health professions graduate school close to home. Prospective applicants can find eligibility details on Midwestern's articulation agreements page or through the University of Iowa Admissions Office.
The first class eligible under the agreement will matriculate in fall 2027.
