What is the acceptance rate at Upper Iowa University?

Upper Iowa University's acceptance rate is approximately 96% (Fayette, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

How much does Upper Iowa University cost?

At Upper Iowa University, the average net price (after aid) is about $20,942 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Upper Iowa University?

Upper Iowa University enrolls approximately 1,994 undergraduate students.

Where is Upper Iowa University located?

Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, IA.

Upper Iowa University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IAprivate nonprofituiu.edu

Acceptance

96%

Avg net price

$20,942

Earnings (10 yr)

$52,766

Graduation rate

34%

Admit rate has ranged 51%–93% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Upper Iowa University (UIU) is a small, private university in rural Fayette, Iowa, known for its exceptionally high acceptance rate (93-96%) and flexible distance education programs that have been pioneering the field for nearly 50 years. With a tight-knit 'family atmosphere' fostered by small class sizes and a focus on practical majors like business, nursing, and cybersecurity, UIU attracts non-traditional and working students who benefit from its career-oriented approach—93% of graduates land jobs or continue education within a year.

Admission requirements

Test scores required

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 1,994
In-state tuition: $19,475
Out-of-state tuition: $19,475
Median Debt: $25,000
Iowa Residency: 61.9%
Notable Majors: Business, Nursing, Cybersecurity
Acceptance Rate: 93-96%
4-Year Grad Rate: 25%
6-Year Grad Rate: 57%
Post-Grad Employment: 93%
Median Salary (6 Yrs): $48,776

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $52,766
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.5×
Median debt at graduation: $25,000
Graduation rate: 34%
First-year retention: 68%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 50%
Pell (lower-income) share: 70%
First-generation share: 45%
Endowment / student: $10,937

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Public Administration$61,516
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$59,781
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,294
Accounting and Related Services$44,170
Marketing$43,054
Finance and Financial Management Services

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.50

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 93
Summer high: 81°F
Winter low: 14°F
Annual rain: 36.9"
Annual snow: 35.3"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 33
Scholarly works: 305

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.4%
Bottom → top quintile: 10%
From bottom quintile: 15%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Upper Iowa University?: Upper Iowa University's acceptance rate is approximately 96% (Fayette, IA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Upper Iowa University cost?: At Upper Iowa University, the average net price (after aid) is about $20,942 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Upper Iowa University?: Upper Iowa University enrolls approximately 1,994 undergraduate students.
Where is Upper Iowa University located?: Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, IA.

Admissions

Upper Iowa University is one of the least selective four-year institutions in the U.S., with ranging from 93.4% (PrepScholar) to 96% (US News). Test scores are modest: the middle 50% of admitted students score between 14-21 on the ACT (BigFuture) or 930-1,140 on the SAT (College Raptor). The average admitted student has an unweighted GPA of 3.34 (PrepScholar), well below the national average for four-year colleges. Notably, UIU's open admissions policy reflects its mission to serve non-traditional and geographically dispersed students—61.9% of undergraduates are Iowa residents, though many leave the state after graduation.