Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · MidwestQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forMostly onlineTest-optional heavy

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

Upper Iowa admits about 10 in 10 applicants (96%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 9% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

96%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

452

Admitted

436

Yield

34%

of admits enroll

ACT middle 50%

17–23

1236

Applications −68% since fall 2014 · admit rate 70% → 96%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,994 undergrads, where 32% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

undergrads · larger than 57% of colleges

Diversity index

0.60

Pell Grant

32%

below the median

First generation

45%

above the median

Rural, remoteNCAA D-II · Great Lakes Valley ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.52 → 0.60 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (21% of graduates). 25 students for every faculty member, more than at 97% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $4,027 a year on instruction per student.

25 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 97% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,777 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.5K less than the national median. The 97% who received grants paid $20,426 on average; the other 3% paid the full sticker price of $34,022.

39%

$20.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.5K below the national median

Full price: $34,022 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 21% · avg $15K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 39% of full price

Federal loans

40%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −15% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $52,766 ten years after enrolling, more than at 47% of colleges; 49% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

49%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$52.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

68%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 38% → 34% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 28% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 15%, as grants covered less of it. Applications fell 68% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 70% to 96%.

Cost
Falling
−15% after inflation
Applications
Shrinking
−68%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 70% → 96%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.52 → 0.60

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Oklahoma Christian University

97% admit · SAT 1140 · 1.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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Marian University

95% admit · 2.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Midwest

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Charleston Southern University

96% admit · SAT 1045 · 2.9K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso private

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Davenport University

98% admit · 3.1K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso MidwestAlso private

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 154493 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything