University of Northern Iowa
- 6/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Cedar Falls, IA
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3.5 4 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
9,278- Location Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Website uni.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Small City
Best Colleges Rank
#479- Size Mid-size
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) occupies a 940-acre campus situated 90 miles northeast of Des Moines. The institution, which began as Iowa State Normal School in 1876, operates as a public university with a primary focus on teacher education and business programs, while also offering comprehensive liberal arts and sciences degrees. The campus features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including the Campanile landmark tower and the recently renovated Schindler Education Center. UNI maintains a moderately selective admission process and houses approximately half of its undergraduate students in on-campus residence halls, with many first-year students residing in traditional dormitory-style buildings. The university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Panthers, participating in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Ratings
UNI is rated within the top 45% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10.
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Overall Rating6 out of 10
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Academics6 out of 10
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Resources5 out of 10
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Outcomes8 out of 10
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Value4 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for University of Northern Iowa within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1020/1280
- ACT (enrolled mid-50) 19/26
- GPA 3.61
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due -
- Enrollment Rate 31.1%
- Application Fee $40
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
Iowa Resident Tuition
$9,936Out of State Resident Tuition
$21,712Breakdown
- Tuition $9,936
- Books and Supplies $800
- Other Fees $1,372
- Room and Board $9,986
- Budget for Other Expenses $2,650
- Total One Year Cost $24,744
- Tuition $21,712
- Books and Supplies $800
- Other Fees $1,372
- Room and Board $9,986
- Budget for Other Expenses $2,650
- Total One Year Cost $36,520
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at University of Northern Iowa are Business, Education, and Social Sciences. 22% of students major in Business, 17% in Education, and 8% in Social Sciences.
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Business 22%
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Education 17%
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Social Sciences 8%
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Communication 6%
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Biology 5%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering University of Northern Iowa are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=154095.
GPA calculator: University of Northern Iowa GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026