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Cedar Falls, IA · Fayette, IA
| University of Northern Iowa | Upper Iowa University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,901/yr | $20,942/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $10,863/yr | $17,715/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $19,691 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $11,751/yr | $22,774/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $14,099/yr | $18,720/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $17,740/yr | $20,041/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,706/yr | $23,805/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $209/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,986/yr | $10,121/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,986/yr | $10,121/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $800/yr | $1,025/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,650/yr | $4,512/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $22,278/yr | $34,022/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,936/yr | $19,475/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $21,712/yr | $19,475/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 27% | 32% |
| Students taking federal loans | 46% | 40% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 93% | 96% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1020–1280 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1122 | 1090 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–26 | 17–23 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–25 · Math 18–25 | English 16–21 · Math 17–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 4,913 | 695 |
| Students accepted | 4,638 | 649 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,552 | 158 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 33% | 24% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 4% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 46% | 25% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Not considered | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 68% | 34% |
| Freshmen who come back | 82% | 68% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $55,177/yr | $52,766/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $40,595–$72,594 | $34,231–$73,435 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 66% | 48% |
| White students graduating | 69% | 42% |
| Black students graduating | 53% | 3.6% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 57% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 72% | 100% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $47,222/yr | $48,776/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 82% | 74% |
| Graduate on time | 47% | 25% |
| Pell students who graduate | 58% | 28% |
| First-gen students who finish | 60% | 30% |
| Low-income students who finish | 54% | 25% |
| Students who transfer out | 22% | 36% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,478/yr | $51,160/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Education 25% · Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 6% | Business, Management & Marketing 33% · Psychology 14% · Education 11% |
| Most popular program | Education — 25% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 33% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Psychology — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees | Education — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 6% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 5% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $78,244/yr | Finance and Financial Management Services — $75,358/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 9.6% | 3% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 7,529 | 1,994 |
| Students per professor | 18 : 1 | 25 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,567 | 887 |
| Average professor pay | $8,542/mo | $6,035/mo |
| Full-time professors | 70% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $70,582 | $31,130 |
| Setting | City (small) | Rural (remote) |
| Location | Cedar Falls, IA | Fayette, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1876 | 1857 |
| Public or private | Public | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.2% | 3.9% |
| Men | 39% | 41% |
| Women | 61% | 59% |
| White students | 83% | 59% |
| Black students | 3.4% | 18% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.2% | 9.3% |
| Asian students | 1.7% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 2.9% | 3.9% |
| Other / not reported | 1.6% | 4.2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 22% | 45% |
| Part-time students | 8.3% | 45% |
| Students age 25+ | 9.3% | 65% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,070/yr | $4,027/yr |
| Endowment | $224.4M | $21.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,594 | 752 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,984/yr | $4,584/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,664/yr | $5,140/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | 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 | Yes | 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 | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 428 | 407 |
| Athletic scholarships | $4.9M | $2.5M |
| Athletics budget | $19.6M | $7.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $19.6M | $7.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $243,339 | $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, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.