UNI vs. Truman State

Deciding between University of Northern Iowa and Truman State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Northern Iowa
Truman State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNI Cedar Falls, IA
  • Truman State Kirksville, MO
  • Setting
  • UNI Small City
  • Truman State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UNI 9,278
  • Truman State 3,664
  • Type
  • UNI Public 4 Year
  • Truman State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNI #479
  • Truman State #256
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNI -
  • Truman State -
  • Status
  • UNI Non-profit
  • Truman State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNI
  • Truman State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNI $9,936
  • Truman State $9,838
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNI $21,712
  • Truman State $18,566
  • Room & Board
  • UNI $9,986
  • Truman State $11,128
  • Average Net Price
  • UNI $16,437
  • Truman State $13,602
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNI $5,865
  • Truman State $12,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNI 83%
  • Truman State 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNI 5,360
  • Truman State 2,883
  • Admitted
  • UNI 4,971
  • Truman State 2,415
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNI 92.7%
  • Truman State 83.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UNI 31.1%
  • Truman State 25.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNI 1150
  • Truman State 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNI 22
  • Truman State 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNI 3.61
  • Truman State 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNI A-
  • Truman State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNI Average
  • Truman State Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNI
  • Truman State
  • ACT Range
  • UNI 19/26
  • Truman State 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UNI 1020/1280
  • Truman State 1170/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNI Test optional
  • Truman State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNI
  • Truman State
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNI 18:1
  • Truman State 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNI
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Truman State
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNI 67%
  • Truman State 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNI $47,700
  • Truman State $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNI 72%
  • Truman State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNI $20,625
  • Truman State $22,656
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNI $213
  • Truman State $234
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNI 36%
  • Truman State 39%
  • % Women
  • UNI 64%
  • Truman State 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNI Very Low
  • Truman State Low
  • HBCU
  • UNI No
  • Truman State No
  • % White
  • UNI 83%
  • Truman State 80%
  • % Asian
  • UNI 1%
  • Truman State 2%
  • % Black
  • UNI 3%
  • Truman State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNI 3%
  • Truman State 3%
  • % Native American
  • UNI 0%
  • Truman State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNI 0%
  • Truman State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNI 2%
  • Truman State 3%
  • % International
  • UNI 4%
  • Truman State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNI 3%
  • Truman State 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNI 89%
  • Truman State 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNI 10%
  • Truman State 15%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UNI Yes
  • Truman State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UNI No
  • Truman State No
  • Meal Plan
  • UNI Yes
  • Truman State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UNI No
  • Truman State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UNI Yes
  • Truman State No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA with Truman State University in Kirksville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Northern Iowa is larger than Truman State based on total student enrollment (9,278 students vs. 3,664 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA (Small City setting); Truman State University is in Kirksville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Northern Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Truman State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Iowa 18:1; Truman State University 12:1.

UNI vs. Truman State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNI or Truman State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Truman State University than UNI ($13,602 vs. $16,437).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 10.3% lower than at Truman State University ($9,986 vs. $11,128).
  • University of Northern Iowa is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Truman State (about $98 more per year; $9,936.00 vs. $9,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.9% higher at UNI than at Truman State University (about $3,146 more per year; $21,712.00 vs. $18,566.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Truman State University than at University of Northern Iowa (100% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Truman State University students is 107.8% larger than aid received by University of Northern Iowa students ($12,186 vs. $5,865).

UNI vs. Truman State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNI or Truman State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Truman State and UNI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Truman State University (1270) is 120 points higher than at UNI (1150).
  • Incoming Truman State students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 22 at UNI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 1020/1280; Truman State University 1170/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 19/26; Truman State University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNI - Test optional; Truman State - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Truman State students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at UNI (3.61).
  • UNI has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Truman State (83.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at UNI vs. 25.9% at Truman State.

UNI vs. Truman State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNI and Truman State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Truman State University's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than University of Northern Iowa's (67%).
  • Graduates from Truman State University earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than UNI graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,800 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Northern Iowa graduates have a $2,031 lower median loan debt than Truman State graduates ($20,625 vs. $22,656).
  • Among borrowers, UNI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Truman State graduates ($213 vs. $234).
  • More Truman State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNI students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.