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Cedar Falls , IA
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is a public university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Founded in 1876, UNI has a long-standing history of academic excellence and is renowned for its strong emphasis on teaching and learning. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, education, humanities, and social sciences.
UNI is known for its commitment to providing a high-quality education through its student-centered approach. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, small class sizes allow for personalized attention and a collaborative learning environment. The university prides itself on its engaged and caring faculty who are dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals and develop essential skills for their careers.
Apart from academics, UNI offers a vibrant campus life with a plethora of extracurricular activities and organizations for students to explore and succeed in. These include over 250 student organizations, club sports, intramural programs, and a wide range of cultural and artistic events. The beautiful campus features state-of-the-art facilities, modern residence halls, and a variety of dining options, ensuring a welcoming and comfortable environment for students.
Overall, the University of Northern Iowa is a distinguished institution that provides an exceptional educational experience, fosters personal growth, and prepares students for successful careers. With its strong academic programs, supportive faculty, and vibrant campus life, UNI offers a well-rounded university experience that prepares graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
University of Northern Iowa is a public university located in Cedar Falls, IA and set in a suburban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 87%. The freshman retention rate at University of Northern Iowa is 81.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 68%.
To find out more about what University of Northern Iowa has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
7,716
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
68%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to increase your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for University of Northern Iowa?
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,888 in 2025. University of Northern Iowa has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 1% and ACT scores 43.3%. 6% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 36% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48% between 1,000 and 1,199, 16% of the students between 800 and 999, and 6% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 6, 28 between 24-29, 51 in the range between 18-23, and 15 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 22 and the average GPA was 3.53. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Northern Iowa; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 596 and an average SAT Math score of 582.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of Northern Iowa was 81.7%, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 68%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of Northern Iowa in 2025 was 9,283.
That year, the school had 8% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 7,716 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 71 international students. 778 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,825 male and 4,556 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 109 full-time graduate male and 290 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 111, and the number of African American students was 201. 375 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 171 identified with more than one race. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 10 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 84 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at University of Northern Iowa? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $8,792. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $20,950. If you are an international student at University of Northern Iowa, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $20,950, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,409.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $20,950 | $1,409 | $22,359 |
| In-State | $8,792 | $1,409 | $10,201 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to pay about $800 for books and supplies during their time at University of Northern Iowa.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at University of Northern Iowa was $10,288 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $5,314, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 8,792 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,288 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 800 |
| Total Expense | $ 19,880 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support for students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Northern Iowa.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 824 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $10,555 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
2,279 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 4,102. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $14,496,366, and state $3,935,912. The students of University of Northern Iowa received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $12,349,471, and external in the amount of $2,473,390.
$4,569
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
2,903 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 740 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $14,496,366 while the state aid is $567,289. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $4,902,712. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,091,370 USD.
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at University of Northern Iowa was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 565 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 255 men and 310 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of Northern Iowa.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Northern Iowa is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at University of Northern Iowa.
Its campus spans 916 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
There are 237 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 3% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 3 for female students. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Accounting Club, followed by Dance Marathon and National Society of collegiate Scholars. Other popular student organizations at this school are Panther eSports and St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center.
If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Northern Iowa band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? University of Northern Iowa publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Northern Iowa has a number of services crucial for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of University of Northern Iowa.
All in all, campus life at University of Northern Iowa is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Northern Iowa.
Career Counselling
At University of Northern Iowa, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 52,760 USD.
$52,760
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of Northern Iowa is 87%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of Northern Iowa is 81.7%.
Contact Information
University of Northern Iowa
1227 West 27th Street
Cedar Falls , IA
50614-0005
319 273-2311
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
