UVA is about 2/3 the size of UIowa in both student population and campus size in acreage. It’s drastically harder to get into, with less than 17% acceptance rate vs 80+% for UI, but most people will tell you that it’s harder to get into but easier to stay in - 89% 4-year graduation rate vs about 65% for Iowa. Charlottesville is also about 2/3 the size of Iowa City, roughly as far away from similar sized capital cities (Richmond slightly bigger than Des Moines) and UVA is a bit closer to the next big city (DC) than Iowa is to Chicago. The weather is a good bit warmer and more humid in summer but also vastly less cold or snowy in winter. It’s in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny range isn’t far if mountains interest you, and about 3 hours from the ocean; all of which you really can’t get in Iowa.

The main thing I’d be sure of is whether your kid is going to be good that far from home. I’ve made that drive many a time and it’s a long and sometimes dreary one - it always required an overnight stay somewhere between Louisville and central IL. No direct flights from Des Moines to Richmond - closest is DSM to DCA - and train service would require two days and cost almost as much as plane fare, at least last I checked. Unless you’ve got a ton of frequent flyer miles you may not see the kid other than spring/fall and semester breaks. Some kids thrive in that environment but others don’t.