| May 2024 | William (Bill) Frank Decker Former UI Director of Information Services (ITS) and national leader in internet infrastructure development Honorary Doctor of Science |
| Charles Ray Internationally esteemed sculptor Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| May 2023 | Oliver Lee Jackson Internationally esteemed painter, sculptor, and printmaker Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Shirley Schermer Inaugural Burials Program Director at the Office of the State Archaeologist, researcher, and advocate Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| May 2022 | Mark M. Johnson Television producer and founder of the Children’s Action Network Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Rita Dove Celebrated essayist and former US Poet Laureate (1993-1995) Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| May 2021 | Mark P. Mattson Former chief of the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program Honorary Doctor of Science |
| Dec 2020 | Ellen Stofan Director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and distinguished planetary scientist Honorary Doctor of Science |
| May 2019 | Mary Sue Coleman Former president of the University of Michigan and the University of Iowa Honorary Doctor of Science |
| May 2018 | Michèle Crider Preeminent operatic soprano singer Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts |
| December 2017 | Marilynne Robinson Novelist and Pulitzer Prize recipient Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| May 2017 | Martín-José Sepúlveda Health care innovator in field of public health Honorary Doctor of Science |
| Ted Waitt Computer entrepreneur and social philanthropist Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| May 2016 | William "Bill" Bryson Non-fiction author and journalist Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| May 2014 | Leonard Hadley Former CEO and chairman, Maytag Honorary Degree of Humane Letters |
| Manny Villifana Health care innovator in the field of cardiac medical devices Honorary Doctor of Science | |
| May 2013 | John W. Colloton Former CEO of UI Hospitals and Clinics Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Mary Louise Petersen Former president of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| May 2012 | Robert D. Ray Former Governor of the State of Iowa Honorary Doctor of Law |
| Robert Osterhaus Former member of the Iowa State House of Representatives Honorary Doctor of Science | |
| Stanley F. Redeker Former president of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| May 2011 | Jerre Stead Dedicated business and civic leader Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Richard Myers Former member of the Iowa House of Representatives Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
Gene Wilder [Mr. Wilder's Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters was approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, but was not conferred before Mr. Wilder passed away in 2016]. | |
| December 2010 | Arthur Neu Former State senator Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| May 2010 | Tom Brokaw Television journalist and author Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Robert Hass Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| C. Vivian Stringer Former UI Women’s Basketball Coach Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Gregs Thomopulos CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Stanley Consultants, Inc. Honorary Doctor of Science | |
| John Pappajohn Entrepreneur and UI Benefactor Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| December 2009 | Henry B. Tippie Businessman and UI Benefactor Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| May 2009 | Johan Hultin Noted pathologist and medical researcher Honorary Doctor of Science |
| December 2008 | Himie Voxman Clarinet legend and former director of the UI School of Music Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| May 2008 | Robert M. Solow Nobel Prize winner for Economics Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| Orhan Pamuk [Mr. Pamuk's award was approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, but has not yet been conferred. The university hopes to host Mr. Pamuk so the award may be conferred in person.] Nobel Prize for Literature Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| December 2007 | Dr. Ignacio Ponseti Orthopaedic Surgeon Honorary Doctor of Science |
| Marvin Pomerantz Philanthropist Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters | |
| Note: No honorary degrees were conferred from June, 1981 to 2007. | |
| June 1981 | Willard (Sandy) Boyd President emeritus of the University of Iowa and professor of law Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters |
| June 1969 | Marquis W. Childs American journalist and Pulitzer Prize recipient Doctor of Letters |
| June 1968 | Edward H. Levi U.S. Attorney General Doctor of Laws |
| June 1967 | George H. Gallup American public opinion statistician, originator of the Gallup poll Doctor of Laws |
| June 1966 | Walter P. Reuther American labor union leader Doctor of Laws |
| June 1965 | W. Willard Wirtz U.S. Secretary of Labor Doctor of Laws |
| June 1963 | Dr. Richard E. Shope Physician who discovered the virus associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic Doctor of Science |
| Lewis L. Strauss American financier and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Doctor of Laws | |
| April 1962 | Earl Warren Chief Justice of the United States Honorary Doctor of Laws |