More selective than 11% of Iowa colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
4% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 25% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose UIU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
We don't have UIU's Common Data Set yet, the college's own report of what it weighs in admissions, early decision and waitlist numbers. Work at UIU or have its file? Send it to us.
UIU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, UIU is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| ACT composite | 17 | 23 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
UIU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 96% | — | — | 17–23 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 93% | 500–590 | 470–570 | 14–21 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is UIU compared with other Iowa colleges?
UIU has the 26th-lowest acceptance rate of 29 Iowa colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Simpson College | 86% | 63% | $21,936 |
| 22 | University of Dubuque | 89% | 40% | $23,386 |
| 23 | Iowa State University | 89% | 75% | $18,589 |
| 24 | University of Northern Iowa | 93% | 68% | $15,901 |
| 25 | Maharishi International University | 96% | 50% | $14,956 |
| 26 | Upper Iowa University | 96% | 34% | $20,942 |
| 27 | Grand View University | 99% | 54% | $21,774 |
| 28 | Mercy College of Health Sciences | 100% | 66% | $26,924 |
| 29 | Loras College | 100% | 68% | $20,716 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Iowa colleges →
Who enrolls at UIU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
UIU admissions questions
What is the UIU acceptance rate?
Upper Iowa University accepts 96% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 649 of 695 applicants were admitted.
Does UIU require the SAT or ACT?
Upper Iowa University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 4% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 25% submitted ACT scores.
How many admitted students enroll at UIU?
24% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (158 of 649).
Is UIU getting harder to get into?
Upper Iowa University accepted 96% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 93% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Upper Iowa University overview