C+
Above Average
Score: 60/100
Overall (traditional)
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
9,013
Total Enrollment
69%
Graduation Rate
85%
Retention Rate
17.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
94%
Acceptance Rate
$15,931
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at University of Northern Iowa, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$55,177
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$47,222
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,691
Median debt at graduation
67.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,122
Average SAT
23
Median ACT
27.4%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 36% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 60th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at University of Northern Iowa
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $65,960 | $89,305 | -17% | #248 of 349 | #225 | $22,770 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $69,122 | $87,580 | +8% | #13 of 51 | #11 | $19,829 |
| Construction Management | $68,698 | $85,688 | -10% | #49 of 57 | #42 | $18,000 |
| Real Estate | $56,866 | $83,592 | -1% | #13 of 25 | #10 | $20,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $61,088 | $82,641 | +8% | #223 of 796 | #171 | $18,750 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $52,759 | $81,172 | -3% | #186 of 452 | #154 | $18,770 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $58,197 | $76,329 | -8% | #105 of 166 | #91 | $22,500 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $75,667 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $51,690 | $74,838 | +10% | #246 of 1176 | #158 | $17,500 |
| Marketing | $48,990 | $72,757 | +5% | #148 of 516 | #113 | $16,661 |
| Economics | $49,314 | $71,905 | -13% | #246 of 368 | #216 | $17,169 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $43,755 | $64,067 | +1% | #77 of 178 | #62 | $19,500 |
| Gerontology | — | $63,876 | +18% | #1 of 6 | #1 | — |
| Biology | $36,286 | $62,391 | +9% | #271 of 841 | #177 | $20,720 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $10,746 | $60,509 | +3% | #87 of 215 | #69 | $17,537 |
| Public Administration | $38,877 | $58,307 | -10% | #31 of 47 | #31 | $20,082 |
| Criminology | $43,914 | $54,993 | -1% | #65 of 113 | #43 | $20,278 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $34,702 | $54,965 | +-0% | #133 of 225 | #94 | $20,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,709 | $54,629 | +0% | #266 of 610 | #218 | $18,750 |
| Psychology | $32,673 | $53,829 | +6% | #311 of 1027 | #176 | $19,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $40,558 | $53,506 | -5% | #350 of 660 | #276 | $16,562 |
| Sociology | $41,250 | $53,198 | +1% | #213 of 462 | #128 | $20,625 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | $39,045 | $52,202 | -24% | #55 of 61 | #50 | $20,625 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $40,009 | $51,712 | -3% | #259 of 476 | #208 | $19,500 |
| Social Work | $37,257 | $50,629 | -2% | #239 of 420 | #212 | $15,388 |
| Political Science and Government | $37,875 | $50,277 | -21% | #514 of 565 | #482 | $24,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $43,602 | $50,144 | -2% | #188 of 345 | #170 | $22,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $36,324 | $49,794 | -1% | #79 of 158 | #63 | $18,625 |
| History | $27,569 | $49,313 | -3% | #270 of 459 | #201 | $19,900 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $37,233 | $48,506 | -5% | #39 of 63 | #37 | $20,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $38,637 | $47,736 | -7% | #203 of 299 | #173 | $21,965 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $47,105 | -33% | #250 of 253 | #235 | $20,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | — | $46,986 | -22% | #134 of 138 | #128 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | $46,780 | -15% | #236 of 265 | #211 | — |
| English Language and Literature | $41,870 | $46,343 | -5% | #368 of 576 | #290 | $21,668 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,790 | $45,885 | -3% | #446 of 680 | #425 | $23,200 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $44,647 | — | — | — | — | $20,625 |
| Mathematics | $42,729 | $44,407 | -36% | #306 of 309 | #306 | $17,692 |
| Graphic Communications | $36,419 | $44,066 | +2% | #28 of 59 | #23 | $19,184 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $43,748 | — | — | — | — | $15,178 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | $41,267 | — | — | — | — | $25,335 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $32,614 | $41,053 | -15% | #153 of 172 | #147 | $20,700 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,095 | $40,288 | -3% | #245 of 423 | #185 | $22,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,289 | $39,816 | +0% | #134 of 255 | #99 | $21,500 |
| Anthropology | — | $34,102 | -27% | #180 of 188 | #178 | — |
| Music | $32,175 | — | — | — | — | $19,500 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
🏆 Where University of Northern Iowa Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $8,396 | $19,940 |
| Room | $4,984 | |
| Board | $4,664 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $22,726 | $34,270 |
Financial Aid
83%
Receive Any Aid
14%
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Take Out Loans
$15,931
Avg Net Price
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,170 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,136 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,872 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,058 |
| $110,001+ | $16,396 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Elementary Education and Teaching
293 grads/yr
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
126 grads/yr
Social Work
126 grads/yr
Business Administration and Management, General
114 grads/yr
Psychology, General
102 grads/yr
Finance, General
81 grads/yr
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs
61 grads/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
57 grads/yr
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General
56 grads/yr
Criminology
50 grads/yr
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
50 grads/yr
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
48 grads/yr
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
46 grads/yr
Speech Communication and Rhetoric
40 grads/yr
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
39 grads/yr
History, General
38 grads/yr
Social Science Teacher Education
36 grads/yr
Construction Management, General
36 grads/yr
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
35 grads/yr
Real Estate
34 grads/yr
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from University of Northern Iowa's top programs commonly pursue.
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72k/yr
74,900 jobs
Elementary school teachers, except special education
$62k/yr
1,422,700 jobs
Social and community service managers
$78k/yr
219,800 jobs
Social work teachers, postsecondary
$76k/yr
17,100 jobs
Social workers, all other
$69k/yr
81,000 jobs
Healthcare social workers
$68k/yr
193,200 jobs
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
$65k/yr
92,300 jobs
Marriage and family therapists
$64k/yr
77,800 jobs
Student Demographics
9,013
Total Students
64%
Women
90%
Traditional Age (18-24)
8%
Off-Campus Renters
👥 Race & Ethnicity
White
83%
Hispanic
6%
Black
3%
Asian
2%
Two or More
3%
Non-Resident
2%
🏠 Living Arrangements
On Campus
88%
Off-Campus (Renters)
8%
With Family
4%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~712 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person
52%
Hybrid (Some Online)
34%
Fully Online
14%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)
90%
25-64 (Adult)
9%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Northern Iowa?
University of Northern Iowa has an acceptance rate of 94%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend University of Northern Iowa?
Tuition at University of Northern Iowa is
$8,396 for in-state students
and $19,940 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $15,931.
What is the graduation rate at University of Northern Iowa?
The graduation rate at University of Northern Iowa is 69%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is University of Northern Iowa a good school?
University of Northern Iowa has a Repit College Score of 60/100 (Grade: C+).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of Northern Iowa?
University of Northern Iowa has a total enrollment of 9,013 students.
Most students (90%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near University of Northern Iowa?
Yes! Approximately 8% of students at University of Northern Iowa live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 712 students who need rental housing near campus.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of Northern Iowa — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to University of Northern Iowa
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology