University of Northern Iowa (UNI) vs South Dakota University

When it comes to choosing the right university, it's essential to compare institutions to find the best fit. The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and the University of South Dakota (USD) are two excellent options with distinct characteristics. UNI boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible choice, while USD has a slightly higher graduation rate. Both universities offer a diverse range of popular majors, including business, education, and nursing. However, UNI has a larger student body, providing a more vibrant campus life. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between UNI and USD. Explore the table to discover which university aligns better with your academic goals, preferred campus environment, and personal preferences.
University of Northern Iowa logo

University of Northern Iowa

University of South Dakota logo

University of South Dakota

Overview

Location Cedar Falls, Iowa Vermillion, South Dakota
Campus setting City: Small Town: Distant
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 81.0% 77.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.8% 87.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 980 - 1190 1050 - 1290
ACT range 20 - 26 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 3.0% 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 66.0% 80.0%
Total number of applicants 4,772 4,272
Total number of admissions given out 4,094 3,717
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,553 1,233
Yield rate 37.9% 33.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $21,409

Out of state: $32,109
In state: $25,657

Out of state: $29,167
Average net price $15,231 $18,974
Tuition
In state: $7,780

Out of state: $18,480
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,699

Meal plan: $4,461
Room/dormitory: $4,366

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $6,227
84.0%
Average amount $5,196
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,115
60.0%
Average amount $5,102
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $7,770
14.0%
Average amount $9,890

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,967
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
6,987
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
Graduate students 1,250
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
2,477
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 9.5% 39.4%
International students 2.4% 2.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 3,412 2,154
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Missouri South Dakota Iowa Nebraska Minnesota Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.9% 60.1%
Dropout rate 9.5% 14.2%
Transferred out 20.6% 24.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,722
  • Year 2: $100,951
  • Year 3: $109,099
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,473
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $100,634
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,587
  • Year 2: $68,778
  • Year 3: $81,751
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $69,478
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,040
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $68,456
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,011
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $68,011
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $64,788
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,801
  • Year 2: $65,170
  • Year 3: $64,105
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,161
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $63,921
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,986
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $61,718

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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