Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa. 7,529 undergraduates. Admits 93% of applicants.

69%Graduation rate14 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$16,038Average net price per year19% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$57,187Median earnings 10 years after startingAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$18,039Median debt at graduation17% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($18,039) equals 32% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($57,187).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$11,415
$30,000–$48,000$11,060
$48,001–$75,000$13,066
$75,001–$110,000$16,728
Over $110,000$19,187

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $10,201 in-state, $22,359 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate69%54%
Return for second year82%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$49,408$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$57,187$58,912
Median debt at graduation$18,039$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

96 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Construction Management36$72,653$100,149$17,625
Computer Science32$59,817$100,086$22,375
Gerontology5—$93,015—
Finance and Financial Management Services105$58,372$88,891$20,500
Economics15$59,725$88,699—
Real Estate34$64,646$86,150$21,500
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians35$80,016$85,894$19,435
Accounting and Related Services0—$84,164—
Management Information Systems and Services0$66,763$82,474—
Business Administration, Management and Operations143$58,668$76,688$16,750
Marketing37$46,739$74,293$15,000
Biology, General60$39,564$68,567$19,500
Data Analytics7$65,405——
Sociology16—$62,011$22,000
Communication and Media Studies32$42,476$60,785$21,500
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods110$59,798—$21,500
Criminology50$46,550$59,736$16,855
Political Science and Government16$43,712$59,147$19,500
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication24$48,001$58,452$19,125
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness49$37,128$58,447$18,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services56—$58,195$19,500
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations13$57,659—$15,750
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other4—$56,450—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities60$40,998$55,732$20,125
Psychology, General102$37,382$54,773$20,840
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language15$42,709$53,190$21,635
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication41$43,411$52,768$20,500
History34$42,358$52,029$20,500
Human Resources Management and Services18$51,406—$14,209
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas138$46,571$51,132$24,600
Mathematics15$48,747$50,981—
Social Work81$42,826$50,875$20,500
Design and Applied Arts30$44,983$50,444$25,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies19$38,711$49,248$20,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods361$44,402$47,743$22,403
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions21—$47,740$21,500
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services29$38,275$47,711$18,625
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics10—$46,713—
English Language and Literature, General17$34,758$45,713—
Criminal Justice and Corrections19$45,483—$22,177
Graphic Communications7—$45,194—
Fine and Studio Arts21$22,977$42,588$23,050
Public Health21$42,003—$17,505
Anthropology5—$40,982—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft19$26,323$33,428—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research11———
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy7———
Special Education and Teaching61——$27,000
Education, Other1———
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians11———
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General14———
Apparel and Textiles5———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology9———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology15———
Statistics7———
Biological and Physical Sciences5———
International/Globalization Studies1———
Philosophy5———
Religion/Religious Studies3———
Chemistry6———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences4———
Physics7———
Public Administration10———
Geography and Cartography6———
Music15———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

93%Admission rate
1,122Average SAT of admitted students
19–26ACT middle 50%
18:1Students per faculty member
28%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of Northern Iowa cost per year?
The average net price at University of Northern Iowa, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $16,038 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of Northern Iowa graduates earn?
Former University of Northern Iowa students earn a median of $57,187 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of Northern Iowa?
69% of University of Northern Iowa students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of Northern Iowa graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of Northern Iowa is $18,039. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.