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University of Northern Iowa
Admission at University of Northern Iowa is close to open (92.7%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $55,177 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Northern Iowa sits in Cedar Falls proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $89,305 four years out. 27.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 7,529 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 81.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 860 and 1210 — below the IA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Northern Iowa's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Northern Iowa received 4,913 applications and admitted 4,638 (94.4%), with 1,552 enrolling.
University of Northern Iowa is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 860–1210 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Northern Iowa's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 460 | 550 | 580 |
| SAT Math | 400 | 580 | 630 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Northern Iowa compares
| University of Northern Iowa | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 92.7% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,936 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $55,177 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
At $55,177, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($55,396). Look at University of Northern Iowa's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,936 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $21,712. For non-residents, University of Northern Iowa's $21,712 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 7,529 undergrads, University of Northern Iowa is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
67.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 32% don't — ask a University of Northern Iowa tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Northern Iowa
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $89,305 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $87,580 |
| Construction Management | $85,688 |
| Real Estate | $83,592 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $82,641 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $81,172 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $76,329 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $74,838 |
| Marketing | $72,757 |
| Economics | $71,905 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $64,067 |
| Gerontology | $63,876 |
| Biology, General | $62,391 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $60,509 |
| Public Administration | $58,307 |
| Criminology | $54,993 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $54,965 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $54,629 |
| Psychology, General | $53,829 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,506 |
| Sociology | $53,198 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $52,202 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $51,712 |
| Social Work | $50,629 |
| Political Science and Government | $50,277 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $50,144 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $49,794 |
| History | $49,313 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $48,506 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $47,736 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $47,105 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $46,986 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $46,780 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $46,343 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,885 |
| Mathematics | $44,407 |
| Graphic Communications | $44,066 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $41,053 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $40,288 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,816 |
| Anthropology | $34,102 |
Median earnings for these 41 University of Northern Iowa programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $55,177 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 28 additional University of Northern Iowa programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Northern Iowa?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 860–1210 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 92.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Northern Iowa's acceptance rate?
94.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,638 admitted from 4,913 applicants.
How much does University of Northern Iowa cost?
In-state tuition is $9,936; out-of-state students pay $21,712. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Northern Iowa graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $55,177 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- Mercy College of Health Sciences — 99.7% admitted
- Maharishi International University — 95.7% admitted
- Simpson College — 86.2% admitted
- Loras College — 99.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.