Graduate by Hilton Iowa City

Hotels
8.6 (969 reviews)
210 South Dubuque Street , Iowa City , us

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Unique decor
Cons:
Issues with room maintenance
Limited food options
Inconsistent service

Categories

Cleanliness
7.79
Some complaints about maintenance and cleanliness issues were noted.
Service
9.26
Staff received positive remarks for being helpful and accommodating.
Location
9.3
Location was frequently highlighted as excellent, convenient for nearby attractions.
Room Quality
7.75
Rooms showed signs of being dated and had some technical issues.
Amenities
8.78
General amenities were mentioned positively, though some basic requests weren't met.
Value for Money
8.74
Overall perceived as reasonable given the location and experience.
Food and Beverage
8.29
Some issues with coffee availability; otherwise acceptable.
Overall Experience
8.86
Guest experiences were largely positive, with some areas for improvement.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 01:24

Property Description

Convenient Location on University Campus
Located just 5 minutes from Carver Hawkeye Arena on the University of Iowa campus, our hotel offers the perfect blend of convenience and comfort for your stay.

Modern Amenities and Comfortable Rooms
Relax in our elegantly styled rooms featuring wood furniture, warm colors, and a 37-inch flat-screen HDTV. Enjoy the convenience of a coffee maker, work desk, and lounge chair in every room.

On-Site Dining and Fitness Options
Indulge in a variety of food options at the Graduate Food Hall and stay active with free access to our state-of-the-art gym. With free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk, we ensure all your needs are met during your stay.

Book now to experience the perfect stay at our hotel near the University of Iowa!

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: CID

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 20 per day.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 9 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for free when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.6
Based on 969 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.79
Service: 9.26
Location: 9.3
Room Quality: 7.75
Amenities: 8.78
Value for Money: 8.74
Food and Beverage: 8.29
Overall Experience: 8.86
S
Susan • couple • us
10
Pros:

Rooms were very comfortable and clean.

2026-03-19 • via Nuitee
K
Kitzze • family_with_children • us
8
convenient and cute
Pros:

The location was perfect, loved the garage nearby, loved it is walking distance to many establishments. Cute decor. Great staff.

Cons:

While the decor was cute, some areas need up keeping. The carpet is staiend and worn, the comforter was stained.

2026-03-17 • via Nuitee
A
Anna • extended_group • us
10
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
M
Mike • couple • us
6
Cons:

Cold showers

2026-03-04 • via Nuitee
M
Mike • couple • us
6
Cons:

Cold showers

2026-03-04 • via Nuitee
E
Ed • family_with_children • us
9
2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Pilar • couple • es
6
El hotel está muy bien ubicado para la actividad que yo tenía programada. Pero necesita reforma, me alojaron en una habi
Pros:

La ubicación

Cons:

No hacen limpieza de habitaciones si no lo demandas. Solicité que hicieran limpieza y solamente cambiaron las toallas y vaciaron papeleras, pero sin limpiar y por supuesto, sin hacer la cama

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
C
Carson • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-02-24 • via Nuitee
K
Karen • extended_group • us
10
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
9
97robinp • Couples • Cedar Rapids, Iowa
10
Funky and Fun!
Pros:

We really enjoyed our stay at the Graduate! The decor was funky and fun, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful and the location was perfect. This will be our hotel of choice for future stays in the Iowa City area.
With a terrible cold snap in the area, there was initially an issue with our radiator, but it was fixed quickly and efficiently, by a technician who was very pleasant even though I am sure he was very, very busy. I wish it was warmer out so we could have taken better advantage of the location on the pedestrian mall.

2026-01-28 • via Tripadvisor
M
morriss • extended_group • us
6
Unhappy with the extra charges, dont like leaving my credit card on file with them!
Pros:

They didnt offer a breakfast, location was good.

Cons:

I had 4 charges that seem very excessive. They have a parking ramp and we validate our parking with them, bu I ended up with 4 charges of $50, $21.20, another $21.20 and a $7.60 charge which is very excessive!

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
N
Nancy • extended_group • us
7
Great, other than breakfast
Pros:

Clean, staff great, Decorating great

Cons:

Bed uncomfortable.
No continental Breakfast

2026-01-22 • via Nuitee
U
Uriel • solo_traveller • us
9
2026-01-20 • via Nuitee
J
Jenna • extended_group • us
10
2026-01-20 • via Nuitee
R
Rebekah • couple • us
5
Stay Somewhere Else
Pros:

Unique feel. Close to cute shops and restaurants and walking distance to Iowa campus.

Cons:

We chose the room that had breakfast included assuming it would be a type of buffet breakfast or restaurant voucher system. The staff was extremely unclear about where breakfast was and how it worked as it was in an adjacent restaurant not part of Hilton. Which is fine. We’ve stayed at hotels that operate like this but they didn’t give us vouchers when we checked in. After we asked the front desk in the morning we were finally given vouchers (after having to prove in my booking app that we chose the room with breakfast included.. shouldn’t that have been on our booking with the hotel?). The voucher was good for one free entree. No drinks and no sides. No coffee. The “entrees” were equivalent to something you’d buy at Starbucks or a bookstore cafe. Not a real breakfast. We also had to get our parking validated every day. I also assumed because the hotel had to VALIDATE our parking that parking was included in our room fees. It was not. We came home to multiple parking charges on our card. The bathroom was tiny and the room seemed to be falling apart with sockets coming out of walls and quickly patched holes and wallpaper. The bathroom light was also malfunctioning. It was motion sensor and it would randomly come on in the middle of the night and not shut off for some time. Sad to see a Graduate property in this condition. Probably ok enough for local college kids visiting friends or there for games.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
C
Cindy • couple • us
4
Cons:

No Wi-Fi password

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
J
Johanna • solo_traveller • us
9
Fun hotel
Pros:

This is such an interesting hotel with great proximity to the U of I. Felt like a boutique hotel.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
M
morriss • extended_group • us
6
Pros:

We enjoyed the loation of being walking distance in the dowtown area

Cons:

I just dont like the way the parking ramp fees work, seems a little too steep even after being validated!

2026-01-13 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • couple • us
7
Funky, fun decor.
Pros:

Good location for just one night

Cons:

They only had decaf coffee in the room.

2025-12-26 • via Nuitee
J
Jody • couple • us
10
We loved it and all said we would go back again
Pros:

We loved the decor and how unique it was. The location is excellent and we were able to walk to restaurants, bars, etc. We were attending my daughter’s college graduation so it was perfect to stay at The Graduate!

2025-12-22 • via Nuitee