University of Northern Iowa
#1 Best Colleges for EducationBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges for Education.
Every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,266,842.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 35% above the national college median.
Every $1 invested returns $20.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
Why University of Northern Iowa Matters
University of Northern Iowa is a public university in Cedar Falls, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 7,529
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose University of Northern Iowa
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 93% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1020–1280. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,901 a year after grants and scholarships — 7% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,177 ten years after enrolling — 35% above the typical college, against $19,691 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 69% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 7,500 students call the University of Northern Iowa home, making it a vibrant community with a high acceptance rate of 93%. This accessibility allows a diverse range of students to pursue their educational goals in a supportive environment.
The university's graduates earn an average of $55,177 a decade after completing their degrees, highlighting the economic potential of a degree from UNI. While specific mobility rates are not available, the school’s commitment to education and support for first-generation college students suggests a focus on helping students from varied backgrounds achieve financial stability.
Attending UNI costs an average net price of $15,901, with median debt for graduates at $19,691. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Education, Business, Health Professions, Psychology, and Communications. With a solid graduation rate of 68%, UNI serves as a stepping stone for many toward successful careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Northern Iowa is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Northern Iowa? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 93% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,122. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Northern Iowa? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Northern Iowa, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $21,712 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $15,901 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,863 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,691.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Northern Iowa Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Northern Iowa earn a median of $55,177, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Northern Iowa Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Northern Iowa delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,901/year ($63,604 total). Graduates earn $55,177 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,330,446 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,266,842 (20.9× your investment). The median debt is $19,691, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Northern Iowa Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Northern Iowa is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.12%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Northern Iowa produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 12 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Northern Iowa awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Northern Iowa's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Northern Iowa? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 93% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,122. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Northern Iowa? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Northern Iowa, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $21,712 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $15,901 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,863 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $19,691.
Is University of Northern Iowa Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of University of Northern Iowa earn a median of $55,177, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does University of Northern Iowa Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
University of Northern Iowa is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.12%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 3.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Northern Iowa? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Northern Iowa, with an economic connectedness score of 1.76 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Northern Iowa.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Northern Iowa? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Northern Iowa, with an economic connectedness score of 1.76 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note