UNI vs. UNOMAHA

Deciding between University of Northern Iowa and University of Nebraska at Omaha? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Northern Iowa
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNI Cedar Falls, IA
  • UNOMAHA Omaha, NE
  • Setting
  • UNI Small City
  • UNOMAHA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNI 9,278
  • UNOMAHA 14,972
  • Type
  • UNI Public 4 Year
  • UNOMAHA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNI #479
  • UNOMAHA #640
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNI -
  • UNOMAHA -
  • Status
  • UNI Non-profit
  • UNOMAHA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNI
  • UNOMAHA
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNI $9,936
  • UNOMAHA $8,718
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNI $21,712
  • UNOMAHA $23,206
  • Room & Board
  • UNI $9,986
  • UNOMAHA $12,130
  • Average Net Price
  • UNI $16,437
  • UNOMAHA $13,662
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNI $5,865
  • UNOMAHA $7,883
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNI 83%
  • UNOMAHA 74%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNI 5,360
  • UNOMAHA 9,246
  • Admitted
  • UNI 4,971
  • UNOMAHA 8,042
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNI 92.7%
  • UNOMAHA 87%
  • Enrolled
  • UNI 31.1%
  • UNOMAHA 26.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNI 1150
  • UNOMAHA
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNI 22
  • UNOMAHA 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNI 3.61
  • UNOMAHA 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNI A-
  • UNOMAHA B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNI Average
  • UNOMAHA Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNI
  • UNOMAHA
  • ACT Range
  • UNI 19/26
  • UNOMAHA 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • UNI 1020/1280
  • UNOMAHA
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNI Test optional
  • UNOMAHA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UNI
  • UNOMAHA Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNI 18:1
  • UNOMAHA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNI
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • UNOMAHA
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNI 67%
  • UNOMAHA 43%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNI $47,700
  • UNOMAHA $46,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNI 72%
  • UNOMAHA 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNI $20,625
  • UNOMAHA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNI $213
  • UNOMAHA $201
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNI 36%
  • UNOMAHA 43%
  • % Women
  • UNI 64%
  • UNOMAHA 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNI Very Low
  • UNOMAHA Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNI No
  • UNOMAHA No
  • % White
  • UNI 83%
  • UNOMAHA 69%
  • % Asian
  • UNI 1%
  • UNOMAHA 3%
  • % Black
  • UNI 3%
  • UNOMAHA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNI 3%
  • UNOMAHA 11%
  • % Native American
  • UNI 0%
  • UNOMAHA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNI 0%
  • UNOMAHA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNI 2%
  • UNOMAHA 4%
  • % International
  • UNI 4%
  • UNOMAHA 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNI 3%
  • UNOMAHA 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNI 89%
  • UNOMAHA 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNI 10%
  • UNOMAHA 10%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNI Yes
  • UNOMAHA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNI No
  • UNOMAHA No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNI Yes
  • UNOMAHA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNI No
  • UNOMAHA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNI Yes
  • UNOMAHA Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA with University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Nebraska at Omaha is larger than UNI based on total student enrollment (14,972 students vs. 9,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA (Small City setting); University of Nebraska at Omaha is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
  • University of Northern Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Iowa 18:1; University of Nebraska at Omaha 15:1.

UNI vs. UNOMAHA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNI or UNOMAHA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Omaha than UNI ($13,662 vs. $16,437).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 17.7% lower than at University of Nebraska at Omaha ($9,986 vs. $12,130).
  • University of Northern Iowa is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNOMAHA (about $1,218 more per year; $9,936.00 vs. $8,718.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at UNOMAHA than at University of Northern Iowa (about $1,494 more per year; $23,206.00 vs. $21,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Northern Iowa than at University of Nebraska at Omaha (83% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Omaha students is 34.4% larger than aid received by University of Northern Iowa students ($7,883 vs. $5,865).

UNI vs. UNOMAHA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNI or UNOMAHA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNOMAHA and UNI.

  • Incoming UNI students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at UNOMAHA (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 19/26; University of Nebraska at Omaha 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNI - Test optional; UNOMAHA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNOMAHA Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at UNOMAHA (3.44).
  • UNI has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UNOMAHA (87%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at UNI vs. 26.3% at UNOMAHA.

UNI vs. UNOMAHA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNI and UNOMAHA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Northern Iowa's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than University of Nebraska at Omaha's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of Northern Iowa earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than UNOMAHA graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,700 vs. $46,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates have a $1,125 lower median loan debt than UNI graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,625).
  • Among borrowers, UNOMAHA graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNI graduates ($201 vs. $213).
  • More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNOMAHA students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.