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Des Moines, IA · Fayette, IA
| Grand View University | Upper Iowa University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $21,774/yr | $20,942/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $18,512/yr | $17,715/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,500 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $18,773/yr | $22,774/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $20,254/yr | $18,720/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $23,414/yr | $20,041/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,601/yr | $23,805/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $239/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,912/yr | $10,121/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,822/yr | $10,121/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,296/yr | $1,025/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,470/yr | $4,512/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $48,522/yr | $34,022/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $34,762/yr | $19,475/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $34,762/yr | $19,475/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 45% | 32% |
| Students taking federal loans | 72% | 40% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 99% | 96% |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1090 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 17–23 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 16–21 · Math 17–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,665 | 695 |
| Students accepted | 1,638 | 649 |
| Students who enrolled | 340 | 158 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 21% | 24% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 4% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 25% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Not considered | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 54% | 34% |
| Freshmen who come back | 70% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $52,824/yr | $52,766/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $37,007–$72,589 | $34,231–$73,435 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 61% | 48% |
| White students graduating | 60% | 42% |
| Black students graduating | 29% | 3.6% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 48% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 40% | 100% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $47,582/yr | $48,776/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 77% | 74% |
| Graduate on time | 45% | 25% |
| Pell students who graduate | 37% | 28% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 30% |
| Low-income students who finish | 59% | 25% |
| Students who transfer out | 21% | 36% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $51,170/yr | $51,160/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 25% · Health Professions 13% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 33% · Psychology 14% · Education 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 25% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 33% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 13% of degrees | Psychology — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 10% of degrees | Education — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Public Administration & Social Service — 9% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 9% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $64,042/yr | Finance and Financial Management Services — $75,358/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 6.4% | 3% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,486 | 1,994 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 25 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 356 | 887 |
| Average professor pay | $7,384/mo | $6,035/mo |
| Full-time professors | 41% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $50,048 | $31,130 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Rural (remote) |
| Location | Des Moines, IA | Fayette, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1896 | 1857 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.3% | 3.9% |
| Men | 45% | 41% |
| Women | 55% | 59% |
| White students | 54% | 59% |
| Black students | 9.6% | 18% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 13% | 9.3% |
| Asian students | 4.2% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 4.7% | 3.9% |
| Other / not reported | 12% | 4.2% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 36% | 45% |
| Part-time students | 7.2% | 45% |
| Students age 25+ | 13% | 65% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,383/yr | $4,027/yr |
| Endowment | $37.5M | $21.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 894 | 752 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,372/yr | $4,584/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,570/yr | $5,140/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division I | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 25 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 851 | 407 |
| Athletic scholarships | $6.6M | $2.5M |
| Athletics budget | $12.4M | $7.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $12.4M | $7.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $35,984 | $46,811 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.