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Fayette, IA · Forest City, IA
| Upper Iowa University | Waldorf University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $20,942/yr | $19,693/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $17,715/yr | $16,448/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $18,752 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $22,774/yr | $18,378/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $18,720/yr | $23,045/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,041/yr | $21,244/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,805/yr | $23,667/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $199/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,121/yr | $9,920/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,121/yr | $9,548/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,025/yr | $1,286/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,512/yr | $8,132/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $34,022/yr | $39,675/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $19,475/yr | $25,978/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,475/yr | $25,978/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 32% | 36% |
| Students taking federal loans | 40% | 39% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 96% | 77% |
| SAT average | 1090 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–23 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 16–21 · Math 17–24 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 695 | 1,033 |
| Students accepted | 649 | 750 |
| Students who enrolled | 158 | 180 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 24% | 24% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 4% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 25% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| 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 | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 34% | 21% |
| Freshmen who come back | 68% | 44% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $52,766/yr | $51,165/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $34,231–$73,435 | $31,771–$79,077 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 48% | 36% |
| White students graduating | 42% | 18% |
| Black students graduating | 3.6% | 22% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 42% | 25% |
| Asian students graduating | 100% | 20% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $48,776/yr | $50,515/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 74% | 72% |
| Graduate on time | 25% | 21% |
| Pell students who graduate | 28% | 18% |
| First-gen students who finish | 30% | 43% |
| Low-income students who finish | 25% | 34% |
| Students who transfer out | 36% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $51,160/yr | $49,831/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 33% · Psychology 14% · Education 11% | Homeland Security & Protective Services 30% · Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Engineering Technologies 19% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 33% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 30% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 14% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 11% of degrees | Engineering Technologies — 19% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 9% of degrees | Psychology — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Public Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees | Family & Consumer Sciences — 3% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Finance and Financial Management Services — $75,358/yr | Fire Protection — $97,731/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 3% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,994 | 1,827 |
| Students per professor | 25 : 1 | 22 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 887 | 391 |
| Average professor pay | $6,035/mo | $5,766/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 37% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $31,130 | $40,142 |
| Setting | Rural (remote) | Rural (remote) |
| Location | Fayette, IA | Forest City, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1857 | 1903 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.9% | 0.3% |
| Men | 41% | 63% |
| Women | 59% | 37% |
| White students | 59% | 57% |
| Black students | 18% | 16% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.3% | 3.6% |
| Asian students | 1.5% | 1.6% |
| Two or more races | 3.9% | 3.6% |
| Other / not reported | 4.2% | 17% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 45% | 46% |
| Part-time students | 45% | 31% |
| Students age 25+ | 65% | 63% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $4,027/yr | $3,138/yr |
| Endowment | $21.8M | No data reported |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 752 | 588 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,584/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $5,140/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | No |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | 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 | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | No |
| Job placement for graduates | No | 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 | No |
| 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 II with football | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 21 |
| Student athletes | 407 | 480 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.5M | $3.7M |
| Athletics budget | $7.0M | $6.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $7.2M | $6.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $46,811 | $72,374 |
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, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.