Simpson College vs University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

Simpson College and the University of Northern Iowa, both esteemed institutions in Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences. Simpson College, a private liberal arts college, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on personalized attention, while the University of Northern Iowa, a public research university, offers a wider range of academic programs and opportunities for research. With Simpson College's acceptance rate of 68% compared to the University of Northern Iowa's 86%, students may find varying levels of competitiveness in the admissions process. Furthermore, the student body demographics and popular majors differ between the two institutions, catering to diverse interests and aspirations. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key aspects of each university, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, and student life. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Simpson College logo

Simpson College

University of Northern Iowa logo

University of Northern Iowa

Overview

Location Indianola, Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa
Campus setting Town: Fringe City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 70.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.8% 85.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
SAT range 890 - 1280 980 - 1190
ACT range 20 - 27 20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 2.0% 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 35.0% 66.0%
Total number of applicants 1,330 4,772
Total number of admissions given out 1,208 4,094
Admitted students who chose to enroll 286 1,553
Yield rate 23.7% 37.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $56,520
In state: $21,409

Out of state: $32,109
Average net price $20,986 $15,231
Tuition $43,124
In state: $7,780

Out of state: $18,480
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,680

Meal plan: $4,974
Room/dormitory: $4,699

Meal plan: $4,461
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $34,582
76.0%
Average amount $6,227
Students receiving federal student loan 73.0%
Average amount $5,158
47.0%
Average amount $5,115
Students taking out private loans 16.0%
Average amount $10,172
8.0%
Average amount $7,770

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,172
Men 46.9% Women 53.1%
7,967
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
Graduate students 46
Men 39.1% Women 60.9%
1,250
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 28.9% 9.5%
International students 1.4% 2.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,264 3,412
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Iowa Arizona Texas Missouri Nebraska Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Missouri

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.9% 68.9%
Dropout rate 30.8% 9.5%
Transferred out N/A 20.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,021
  • Year 2: $73,041
  • Year 3: $81,168
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,180
  • Year 2: $54,509
  • Year 3: $62,305
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,866
  • Year 2: $49,787
  • Year 3: $53,487
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,401
  • Year 2: $42,012
  • Year 3: $46,368
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,370
  • Year 2: $36,668
  • Year 3: $44,730
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,991
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $42,375
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,249
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $41,996
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,017
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $41,102
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,449
  • Year 2: $32,029
  • Year 3: $38,526
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $35,030
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,668
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $72,923
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,120
  • Year 2: $60,399
  • Year 3: $71,051
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,778
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $70,112
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,521
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $65,647
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,320
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,408
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,657
  • Year 3: $63,798
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,695
  • Year 2: $52,908
  • Year 3: $60,640
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,123
  • Year 2: $49,752
  • Year 3: $57,498
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,675
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $57,318
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,372
  • Year 2: $45,221
  • Year 3: $57,298

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