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University of Northern Iowa

UNI Panthers Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0005

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeUrbanPublicBusiness Focus

Known for business — excellent value

University of Northern Iowa is a public urban institution in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1120.

A mid-sized campus of 7.6K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

69% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $55,177 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $14,609.

Established
1876
Motto
Lux
Mascot
TC Panther (male) TK Panther (female)
Type
Public university
Division
Division 1

Plan Your Visit

94%Acceptance
1120SAT Avg
7,599Students
17:1Student:Faculty
69%Grad Rate
$55,177Earnings 10yr
$14,609Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

University of Northern Iowa Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate94.4%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1120

Reading & WritingMid: 535
460580
MathMid: 550
400630

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 23
2026

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

94.4%

Trend

SAT Avg

1120

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$9,728
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,272
Room & Board$9,648
Books & Supplies$800
Total Cost of Attendance$21,627
Average Net Price$14,609
Median Debt at Graduation$19,691
Monthly Payment (10yr)$209

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$10,170
$30–48K$11,136
$48–75K$13,872
$75–110K$16,058
$110K+$16,396

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

56.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$16,486

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

57

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

15

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

5

Motor Vehicle Theft

6

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

15

Drug Arrests

11

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (115)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • 85% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
7,599
Gender Split
62% / 38%
Women / Men
First Generation
22%
Pell Grant Recipients
24%

Race & Ethnicity

White 84%
Black 3%
Hispanic 6%
Asian 2%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate68.9%
Freshman Retention84.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$47,222
10 Years$55,177

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

BasketballSoftballBasketball recordsBasketball media

History & Fun Facts

  • History The University of Northern Iowa was founded as a result of two influential forces of the nineteenth century.
  • First, Iowa wanted to care for orphans of its Civil War veterans, and secondly, Iowa needed a public teacher training institution.
  • In 1876, when Iowa no longer needed an orphan home, legislators Edward G.
  • The school's first building opened in 1867 and was known as Central Hall.
  • It was also a home to the college's first principal, James Cleland Gilchrist.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul168 mi
MKE Milwaukee233 mi
ORD Chicago O'Hare236 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1088 mi · ~31h 26m drive
New York, NY959 mi · ~27h 42m drive
Hartford, CT1013 mi · ~29h 16m drive
Providence, RI1076 mi · ~31h 5m drive
Albany, NY950 mi · ~27h 27m drive
Syracuse, NY827 mi · ~23h 53m drive
Rochester, NY753 mi · ~21h 45m drive
Buffalo, NY689 mi · ~19h 54m drive
Philadelphia, PA914 mi · ~26h 24m drive
Pittsburgh, PA660 mi · ~19h 4m drive
Harrisburg, PA821 mi · ~23h 43m drive
Newark, NJ951 mi · ~27h 28m drive
Washington, DC844 mi · ~24h 23m drive
Baltimore, MD856 mi · ~24h 44m drive
Atlanta, GA747 mi · ~21h 35m drive
Charlotte, NC801 mi · ~23h 8m drive
Raleigh, NC873 mi · ~25h 13m drive
Miami, FL1350 mi · ~39h drive
Orlando, FL1147 mi · ~33h 8m drive
Tampa, FL1152 mi · ~33h 17m drive
Nashville, TN533 mi · ~15h 24m drive
New Orleans, LA878 mi · ~25h 22m drive
Richmond, VA864 mi · ~24h 58m drive
Chicago, IL251 mi · ~7h 15m drive
Detroit, MI480 mi · ~13h 52m drive
Minneapolis, MN175 mi · ~5h 3m drive
St. Louis, MO294 mi · ~8h 30m drive
Kansas City, MO261 mi · ~7h 32m drive
Indianapolis, IN379 mi · ~10h 57m drive
Columbus, OH522 mi · ~15h 5m drive
Cleveland, OH557 mi · ~16h 5m drive
Milwaukee, WI234 mi · ~6h 46m drive
Dallas, TX713 mi · ~20h 36m drive
Houston, TX896 mi · ~25h 53m drive
Austin, TX895 mi · ~25h 51m drive
San Antonio, TX965 mi · ~27h 53m drive
Los Angeles, CA1508 mi · ~43h 34m drive
San Francisco, CA1607 mi · ~46h 25m drive
San Diego, CA1504 mi · ~43h 27m drive
Seattle, WA1490 mi · ~43h 3m drive
Portland, OR1507 mi · ~43h 32m drive
Denver, CO679 mi · ~19h 37m drive
Phoenix, AZ1234 mi · ~35h 39m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1008 mi · ~29h 7m drive
Honolulu, HI4000 mi · ~115h 33m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)168 miles
Rental car
252 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
336 min$202-336
Milwaukee (MKE)233 miles
Rental car
350 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
466 min$280-466

Deadline Calendar

University of Northern Iowa Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

University of Northern Iowa — v2 Preview — TourStack