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Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Rural

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At a glance

Average net price
$20,942What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
96%
Graduation rate
38%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,994
In-state tuition
$19,475Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$19,475
SAT midpoint
960
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$52,766Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$20,942

Better than 61% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

38%

Better than 16% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$52,766

Better than 45% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$25,000

Better than 40% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$34,022

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$20,942

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Upper Iowa University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time38%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return68%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$25,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$52,766

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Upper Iowa University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$70,22455
Public Administration$61,10417
Social Sciences, General$56,22118
Business Administration, Management and Operations$55,854142
Accounting and Related Services$54,15235
Marketing$52,3139
Health and Medical Administrative Services$49,91612
Human Resources Management and Services$49,10630
Finance and Financial Management Services$48,86013
Special Education and Teaching$44,30418
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$43,73939
Biology, General$43,31112
Criminology$43,17044
Psychology, General$42,18388
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,80274
Human Services, General$39,38944
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$34,3477
Design and Applied Arts$31,12223
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported20
SociologyNot reported7
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported6
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported4
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported4
Homeland SecurityNot reported4
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reported4
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported4
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported3
Agricultural Business and ManagementNot reported3
Computer EngineeringNot reported2
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported2
ChemistryNot reported1
Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsNot reported1
HistoryNot reported1
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign LanguageNot reportedNot reported
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansNot reportedNot reported
MathematicsNot reportedNot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Biological and Physical SciencesNot reportedNot reported

All 40 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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