University of Northern Iowa

University in Cedar Falls, The United States

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is a public university in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School, and teacher education is still a core focus, alongside business, STEM, health and the arts. UNI has more than 9,000 students from 46 states and 52 countries, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. According to the university, U.S. News & World Report ranks it the No. 1 public regional university in the Midwest. Its business degrees are AACSB-accredited.

UNI offers more than 160 majors, minors and certificates, plus master's and doctoral programmes. International applicants are handled by the Office of International Admissions. Students who do not yet meet the English requirements can join the English Pathway Program, taking credit-bearing courses with extra English support, or be admitted conditionally and study first in the Culture and Intensive English Program (CIEP).

International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships. On campus, students can live in traditional, suite-style and apartment-style residence halls.

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Programmes

More than 160 majors, minors and certificates, organised in these colleges:

College of Education (teacher education)
College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Wilson College of Business (AACSB-accredited)
Nursing (ACEN-accredited)

Undergraduates can take part in research and internships.

Graduate programmes

Master's and doctoral programmes in the College of Education, the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Wilson College of Business. Some departments offer graduate assistantships and scholarships on a competitive basis. International graduate applicants pay a $75 application fee.

Admission

International first-year applicants submit:

Online application and a non-refundable $50 application fee
Secondary school transcripts
English test scores
Financial documents

SAT/ACT scores are not required. Unofficial documents are accepted for the admission decision, but official transcripts are required later. Transfer applicants send university transcripts; transfer credit is assessed course by course from course descriptions in English, with a maximum of 65 semester hours from a two-year college. Each applicant is assessed according to the education system of their country.

Language requirements

Applicants must show English proficiency. Those slightly below the standard level can enter the English Pathway Program and start academic courses with extra English support in their first semester:

Undergraduate: TOEFL 61-78, IELTS 5.5 or Duolingo 95-100
Graduate: TOEFL 70-78, IELTS 6 or Duolingo 95-100

Undergraduate applicants without proof of English can be admitted conditionally: they take a placement test on arrival and study in the Culture and Intensive English Program (CIEP), which has March, June and October intakes.

Fees

Estimated cost of attendance for international students, 2026-27 academic year (August 2026 to May 2027, two semesters):

Tuition: $21,578 (undergraduate), $22,908 (graduate)
Fees: $1,451
Mandatory health insurance: $2,520
On-campus housing and meals: $10,646
Total including books and personal expenses: $38,196 (undergraduate), $39,525 (graduate)

Business majors (juniors, seniors and graduate students) pay a supplement of about $2,058 for 2026-27. The application fee is $50 (undergraduate) or $75 (graduate).

Scholarships and financial aid

Scholarships for international undergraduates:

International Scholars Award: $2,000-$5,000 per year, automatic, for a GPA of 3.0 or SAT 1020 or higher
Transfer Scholar Award: $1,000 for one year, automatic, for a transfer GPA of 3.25 or higher
International Excel Award: $1,000-$4,000 per year, through the UNI Scholarship Application
Presidential Scholar Award: $4,000 per year
Iowa Partner State Award: $4,000 per year for students from Iowa's partner regions abroad

Most awards are renewable for up to four years. Students on F or J visas can work on campus.

Housing

UNI Housing & Dining runs traditional, suite-style and apartment-style residences on campus, including Bender, Dancer, Hagemann, Lawther, Noehren, Rider and Shull halls and the Jennings Court, Panther Village, Roth and Trailside apartments. Most students live on campus for at least two years. The Live 2 Succeed programme gives a $1,000 scholarship to students who live on campus for at least two years.