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Iowa ISU South Dakota State University University of North Dakota Black Hills State University Nebraska Augustana Truman State UNOMAHA Augustana University University of Minnesota-Duluth South Dakota School of Mines and Technology| University of Northern Iowa | University of South Dakota | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNI | USD | ||
| Location | Cedar Falls, IA | Vermillion, SD | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 8,945 | 9,856 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #414 | #597 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uni.edu | usd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNI | USD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,111 | $7,773 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,265 | $11,283 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,343 | $8,224 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,782 | $18,378 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,412 | $6,308 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 83% | 79% |
Admission |
UNI | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,594 | 4,480 | ||
| Admitted | 4,362 | 4,456 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.9% | 99.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 32.9% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | 3.43 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1330 | 1020/1300 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
UNI | USD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNI | USD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,700 | $48,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 72% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,625 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $213 | $258 |
Diversity |
UNI | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
UNI | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 43% | ||
Campus |
UNI | USD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Dakota is larger than than UNI based on total student enrollment (9,856 students vs. 8,945 students)
UNI vs. USD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNI or USD?
- University of Northern Iowa is 4.3% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($8,111.00 vs. $7,773.00)
- Out of state tuition is 70.7% higher at UNI than University of South Dakota ($19,265.00 vs. $11,283.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Northern Iowa than USD ($15,782 vs. $18,378)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 13.6% lower than costs at University of Northern Iowa ($8,224 vs. $9,343)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Northern Iowa than University of South Dakota (83% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Northern Iowa students is 1.6% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($6,412 vs. $6,308)
UNI vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNI or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or UNI .
- The average SAT score at University of Northern Iowa (1050) is 1 points higher than at USD (1049)
- Incoming UNI students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at USD (23)
- Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at USD (3.43)
- USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than UNI (94.9%)
UNI vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNI or USD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USD and UNI.
- The graduation rate at UNI is higher than University of South Dakota (67% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from University of South Dakota earn on average $500 more per year than UNI graduates after ten years. ($48,200 vs. $47,700)
- University of Northern Iowa students graduate with a $4,375 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($20,625 vs. $25,000)
- UNI graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($213 vs. $258)
- More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/