In 1869, she was nominated for county superintendent of schools in Audubon County, Iowa, and lacked but fifteen votes of an election. In 1873, having accumulated funds sufficient for a professional education, she began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of William Stephenson Robertson, M. D., professor of the principles and practice of medicine, Medical Department, State University of Iowa (now known as University of Iowa), Iowa City, Iowa in which institution she also attended three courses of lectures, and from which she was graduated with honor, March 4, 1876,[2] receiving a prize for a thesis on puerperal fever. While yet an undergraduate, McCowen was offered the position of assistant physician on the staff of the State Hospital for the Insane, at Mt.