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Upper Iowa University
Admission at Upper Iowa University is close to open (96.5%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $52,766 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Upper Iowa University anchors the college town of Fayette, IA, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $76,345 four years out. 31.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,994 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 67.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 970 and 1160 — below the IA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Upper Iowa University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Upper Iowa University received 695 applications and admitted 649 (93.4%), with 158 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 970–1160 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Upper Iowa University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 550 | 590 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 500 | 570 |
| ACT Composite | 14 | 16 | 21 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Upper Iowa University compares
| Upper Iowa University | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 96.5% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $19,475 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $52,766 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
At $52,766, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($55,396). Look at Upper Iowa University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $19,475 regardless of where you're from. At Upper Iowa University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,994 — Upper Iowa University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
Fewer than half of Upper Iowa University students — 33.9% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Upper Iowa University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $76,345 |
| Public Administration | $70,374 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $66,931 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $65,858 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $64,706 |
| Biology, General | $64,110 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $63,736 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,645 |
| Social Sciences, General | $57,430 |
| Criminology | $56,767 |
| Marketing | $54,858 |
| Psychology, General | $50,877 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $49,098 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $49,002 |
| Human Services, General | $48,461 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,790 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,945 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $41,765 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,109 |
Median earnings for these 19 Upper Iowa University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $52,766 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 21 additional Upper Iowa University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Upper Iowa University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 970–1160 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 96.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Upper Iowa University's acceptance rate?
93.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 649 admitted from 695 applicants.
How much does Upper Iowa University cost?
At Upper Iowa University, published tuition is $19,475 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Upper Iowa University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Upper Iowa University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $52,766 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- Simpson College — 86.2% admitted
- University of Northern Iowa — 92.7% admitted
- Mercy College of Health Sciences — 99.7% admitted
- Maharishi International University — 95.7% 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.