University of Northern Iowa (UNI) vs Grand Valley State

Envision yourself as a student, embarking on a journey of higher education. As you navigate the vast landscape of universities, two prominent institutions emerge: the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and Grand Valley State University (GVSU). While both offer exceptional academic experiences, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. UNI, nestled in the heart of Cedar Falls, Iowa, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. GVSU, located in the vibrant city of Allendale, Michigan, stands out with its lower acceptance rate, indicating a highly selective admissions process. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, to determine which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
Grand Valley State University logo

Grand Valley State University

University of Northern Iowa logo

University of Northern Iowa

Overview

Location Allendale, Michigan Cedar Falls, Iowa
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.7% 85.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
SAT range N/A 980 - 1190
ACT range N/A 20 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 66.0%
Total number of applicants 17,163 4,772
Total number of admissions given out 15,730 4,094
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,807 1,553
Yield rate 24.2% 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
In state: $23,604

Out of state: $29,340
In state: $21,409

Out of state: $32,109
Average net price $16,947 $15,231
Tuition
In state: $13,560

Out of state: $19,296
In state: $7,780

Out of state: $18,480
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,380

Meal plan: $3,500
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)

80.0%
Average amount $8,376
76.0%
Average amount $6,227
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $5,161
47.0%
Average amount $5,115
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $13,024
8.0%
Average amount $7,770

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 19,379
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
7,967
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
Graduate students 3,027
Men 28.0% Women 72.0%
1,250
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 10.6% 9.5%
International students 1.8% 2.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 6,012 3,412
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Illinois Indiana Ohio Texas Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Missouri

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.1% 68.9%
Dropout rate 15.6% 9.5%
Transferred out 15.4% 20.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,525
  • Year 2: $105,839
  • Year 3: $111,967
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,846
  • Year 2: $96,539
  • Year 3: $93,695
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,623
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,454
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,965
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $73,434
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,881
  • Year 2: $62,691
  • Year 3: $72,792
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,211
  • Year 2: $65,969
  • Year 3: $72,474
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,095
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $71,736
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,039
  • Year 2: $58,479
  • Year 3: $69,240
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,382
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $68,410
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,161
  • Year 2: $67,939
  • Year 3: $68,289
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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