Established on July 1, 1999, the college's roots originate in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, and with the Graduate Program in Hospital and Health Administration.

The College of Public Health Building has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest standard for sustainable design.

[citation needed] The college is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, an independent agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit schools of public health.

[1] The University of Iowa College of Public Health is the #19 school of public health in the nation, according to the 2019 rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

[2] The college’s Department of Health Management and Policy is ranked #8 overall, and #5 among publicly supported programs in health care management.