92.74%

Acceptance Rate

$4,718

Avg.Financial Aid

001890

FAFSA Code

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Report Card

Selectivity
92.7% acceptance rate
Academics
B-
68% graduation rate
Class Size
D
18:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
B+
$21,712 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

Institution
University of Northern Iowa (UNI)
Type
Public

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified June 2026. Citable source →

University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Public

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    Not applicable

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    HLC

  • Website

    www.uni.edu
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    7,529

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

The University of Northern Iowa offers an exceptional liberal arts education combined with professional preparation in a welcoming community setting. Located in Cedar Falls, UNI emphasizes teaching excellence and small class sizes that characterize the finest liberal arts institutions. Strong programs in business, engineering, education, and the sciences prepare undergraduates for careers and graduate study across all disciplines.

UNI's commitment to undergraduate research and mentorship ensures meaningful faculty interaction from the first year. The university's location in Iowa offers affordability and a tight-knit academic community while maintaining wide-ranging academic offerings. Cedar Falls and the surrounding region provide internship opportunities and engagement with community service projects.

With approximately 12,000 students, UNI balances the personal attention of a liberal arts college with the breadth and resources of a full university. The institution's strong reputation in education and business reflects decades of commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers and engaged citizenship.

Location & Contact

Address

1227 W 27th St, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Contact

Phone: (319) 273-2311
Find Your School

Rankings

The ranking of a particular university helps a student decide where to apply, which is always a tough decision. University of Northern Iowa has been ranked at the 405th position among other universities by Forbes. It is to be noted that Forbes decides on the rankings of the university based on common metrics like acceptance rate, endowment, benefits, and SAT scores, among others.

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    None

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    92.74%

  • SAT Range

    980 - 1241

  • SAT/ACT

    Required

  • ACT Range

    21 - 26

  • High School GPA

    Required

  • Application Fee

    $40

  • Accept Common App

    None

Admission to the university is fairly easy and the students are recommeded to make the most out of it. The varsity has 4 admission thresholds. Candidates are required to fill the form and submit a fee of $40, as part of the admission process at UNI. As per the past trends, the SAT score of a student must lie in the range of 980-1241 to improve her chances. Notably, students securing ACT score less than 20 might also given admission but the average ACT score at University of Northern Iowa is 23. The application process can be completed online. However, if needed, one can also visit the office at 1227 W 27th St, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0005, or call (319) 273-2311.

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $15,901

  • Average Annual Cost

    $9,936

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $20,934

  • Other Fees

    $1,273

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $8,948

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $2,148

Total One Year Cost

$20,934

Tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure are the next two things that a student should keep in mind before applying to UNI. The total one-year cost on a full-time basis would be somewhere around $27,436. For students seeking financial assistance, the university offers a number of options.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctor's degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

18:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

82%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

29%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$337

Faculty Overview

52%

Male Professors

48%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Most Popular Majors:

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    344 Graduates

  • Business Administration, Management...

    138 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    100 Graduates

  • Finance and Financial Management Se...

    100 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    97 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    87 Graduates

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitne...

    85 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    83 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    97 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    87 Graduates

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitne...

    85 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    83 Graduates

  • Marketing

    83 Graduates

  • Criminology

    81 Graduates

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General...

    69 Graduates

  • Social Work

    69 Graduates

  • Communication and Media Studies

    65 Graduates

  • Communication Disorders Sciences an...

    65 Graduates

  • Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studi...

    56 Graduates

  • Management Information Systems and...

    52 Graduates

  • Human Development, Family Studies,...

    51 Graduates

  • English Language and Literature, Ge...

    50 Graduates

  • Health Professions and Related Clin...

    49 Graduates

  • Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...

    46 Graduates

  • Design and Applied Arts

    43 Graduates

  • Industrial Production Technologies/...

    38 Graduates

  • History

    37 Graduates

  • Real Estate

    37 Graduates

  • Computer Science

    34 Graduates

  • Public Relations, Advertising, and...

    31 Graduates

  • Mathematics

    30 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    29 Graduates

  • Fine and Studio Arts

    28 Graduates

  • Economics

    23 Graduates

  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and...

    22 Graduates

  • Sociology

    22 Graduates

  • Electromechanical Instrumentation a...

    21 Graduates

  • Construction Management

    20 Graduates

  • Music

    20 Graduates

  • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

    19 Graduates

  • Graphic Communications

    18 Graduates

  • Statistics

    17 Graduates

  • Geography and Cartography

    16 Graduates

  • Teaching English or French as a Sec...

    15 Graduates

  • Public Administration

    13 Graduates

  • Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervent...

    12 Graduates

  • Anthropology

    12 Graduates

  • Gerontology

    12 Graduates

  • Physics

    12 Graduates

  • Apparel and Textiles

    9 Graduates

  • Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosc...

    9 Graduates

  • Philosophy

    9 Graduates

  • Religion/Religious Studies

    9 Graduates

  • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecu...

    7 Graduates

  • Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, an...

    7 Graduates

  • Natural Resources Conservation and...

    7 Graduates

  • Chemistry

    6 Graduates

  • Biological and Physical Sciences

    5 Graduates

  • International/Global Studies

    4 Graduates

  • Computer/Information Technology Adm...

    2 Graduates

  • Education, Other

    1 Graduates

  • Linguistic, Comparative, and Relate...

    1 Graduates

Show More

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

9,536

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

26%

Full-time / Part-time

92% / 8%

Students Gender

Male

42%

US National: 44%

Female

58%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

82%

Unknown

5%

Black

3%

Hispanic

4%

Two or more races

2%

Non Resident alien

3%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

2%

Unknown Location

6%

Out Of State

92%

In State

0%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$56,118 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and N/A of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

Freshmen Live on Campus

N/A

Undergrads in College Housing

41%

Averege Housing Cost

$4,540/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $4,408/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$4,408/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Panthers

School Colors

purple and old gold

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Missouri Valley Conference

Total Male Athletes

219

Total Female Athletes

200

Intramural Sports

23

Sports Club

33

Sports Team (Men)

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Golf

Track and Field

Wrestling

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cross Country

Golf

Soccer

Softball

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

The university offers on-campus housing facilities to the students who wish to stay on the campus. At UNI, $9,160 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. The average meal plan at UNI costs around $4,408 a year. Notably, students at the varsity get to choose from various dining and meal plan options as well. To ensure the safety and security of students, the university has a number of campus safety and security measures in place. Some of these features include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. The number of female and male students at the university are 41% and 59%, respectively.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$38,100/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$44,600/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$15,300 - $27,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$159 - $280

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

67%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,718

Students Receiving Federal Grants

28%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,527

Students Receiving State Aid

1%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,153

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

65%

Average Aid Per Year

$2,875

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$9,108

$30K - $48K

$7,774

$48K - $75K

$5,136

$75K - $110K

$3,261

> $110K

$3,123

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$3,244,302

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$3,759,711

The financial aid department of University of Northern Iowa helps students by assisting them with scholarships, grants, and student loans in the event that they find the fees and the cost of living at the campus to be expensive. The average financial aid at University of Northern Iowa is around $2,883 and the federal grant is $4,297. Prospective students can benefit from state-level aid worth $4,199 as well as institutional aid worth $2,883. At UNI, the total amount of need-based scholarships/grants awarded to students stands at $3,244,302 per year. On the other hand, the total non-need-based scholarships/grants offered in a year add up to $3,759,711.

Frequently Asked Questions About University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

How hard is it to get into University of Northern Iowa (UNI)?

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 92.7%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does University of Northern Iowa (UNI) cost?

Tuition at University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is approximately $21,712 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend University of Northern Iowa (UNI)?

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) enrolls approximately 7,529 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at University of Northern Iowa (UNI)?

The graduation rate at University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is 68%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at University of Northern Iowa (UNI)?

The student-faculty ratio at University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is 18:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for University of Northern Iowa (UNI)?

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 520-650 (Reading) and 500-630 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 19-26. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is University of Northern Iowa (UNI) a public or private university?

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is a public institution.

When is the application deadline for University of Northern Iowa (UNI)?

Application deadlines at University of Northern Iowa (UNI) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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