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Iowa ISU UNOMAHA University of Minnesota-Duluth Drake Northwest Wartburg College WMU USD IU Simpson College ISU| VanderCook College of Music | University of Northern Iowa | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
VCM | UNI | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Cedar Falls, IA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 340 | 9,013 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #509 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | vandercook.edu | uni.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
VCM | UNI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $28,640 | $8,396 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $28,640 | $19,940 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,500 | $9,648 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,601 | $15,931 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,249 | $5,325 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 74% |
Admission |
VCM | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 37 | 4,913 | ||
| Admitted | 36 | 4,638 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 97.3% | 94.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 47.2% | 33.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.1 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 15/20 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 890/1160 | 860/1210 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
VCM | UNI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 4:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
VCM | UNI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 45% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | N/A | $47,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 72% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $20,625 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $213 |
Diversity |
VCM | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 39% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 21% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
VCM | UNI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 9% | ||
Campus |
VCM | UNI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Northern Iowa is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (9,013 students vs. 340 students)
VCM vs. UNI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, VCM or UNI?
- VanderCook College of Music is 241.1% more expensive to attend than UNI for in-state tuition ($28,640.00 vs. $8,396.00)
- Out of state tuition is 43.6% higher at VCM than University of Northern Iowa ($28,640.00 vs. $19,940.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Northern Iowa than VCM ($15,931 vs. $16,601)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 28.6% lower than costs at University of Northern Iowa ($7,500 vs. $9,648)
- More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than University of Northern Iowa (100% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 317.8% larger than aid received University of Northern Iowa ($22,249 vs. $5,325)
VCM vs. UNI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, VCM or UNI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNI or VCM .
- The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 57 points higher than at UNI (1050)
- Incoming VCM students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UNI (23)
- Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at VCM (3.1)
- VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than UNI (94.4%)
VCM vs. UNI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, VCM or UNI? 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 UNI and VCM.
- The graduation rate at UNI is higher than VanderCook College of Music (67% vs. 45%)
- University of Northern Iowa students graduate with a $6,375 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($20,625 vs. $27,000)
- UNI graduates are paying $66 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($213 vs. $279)
- More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 66%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/