Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Northern Iowa is a public regional university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. University of Northern Iowa is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of Northern Iowa is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $49,563 10 years after enrolling, 15th in Iowa, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of Northern Iowa bachelor students earn 1% more than the national average. University of Northern Iowa is ranked 6th in Iowa.
University of Northern Iowa’s median net annual cost of $16,438 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of Northern Iowa sorted by number of graduates - Education, Education (subject specific), Business Administration, Psychology, Finance, Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,438
Average years to graduate
4.6
Accounting
Rank: #159
Economic score: 2.1
Marketing
Rank: #89
Economic score: 2.64
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #143
Economic score: 4.04
Social Work
Rank: #80
Economic score: 4.51
Parks & Recreation Studies
Rank: #18
Economic score: 5.16
Health & Fitness
Rank: #178
Economic score: 5.79
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #161
Economic score: 7.38
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #75
Economic score: 9.01
Human Development & Family
Rank: #72
Economic score: 10.98
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #235
Economic score: 17.63
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of Northern Iowa - Business Administration, Communication disorder sciences, Mathematics, Social Work, Educ. Administration, Student Counseling - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Accounting
Rank: #98
Economic score: 0.26
Health & Fitness
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.28
English Language & Lit
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 0.34
Education
Rank: #45
Economic score: 0.4
Library Science
Rank: #6
Economic score: 0.49
Music
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.6
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #36
Economic score: 0.85
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 68% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of Northern Iowa is 3% higher than the state average, and 11% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At University of Northern Iowa, Pell Grant recipients represent 26% of the measured graduating class, 9% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of Northern Iowa graduates within 4.6 years.
University of Northern Iowa is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Northern Iowa’s economic mobility score of 17.19 is calculated by adjusting the 2.68 economic score of lower-income students by the 26% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of Northern Iowa’s EMS of 17.19 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Northern Iowa pays $16,438 a year, $4,856 less than the $21,294 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,438
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of Northern Iowa, 76% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,438 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 47% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,417. This is 7% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,115
Pell grants
$4,329
State grants
$2,204
Institutional grants
$3,830
University of Northern Iowa offers 4 online bachelor programs, one of which is held exclusively online. At the master’s level University of Northern Iowa offers 15 programs, 13 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
19
Hybrid programs
5
Percentage of programs online
12%
University of Northern Iowa's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 86% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 4,772 applicants, of which 4,094 were admitted and 1,553 enrolled. University of Northern Iowa doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
95%
83%
Female
60%
59%
First time
60%
59%
In-state
90%
68%
1st generation
22%
35%
White
83%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
5%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
8%
12%