Honor & Ranking

In the college search process, bigger is not always better, and cheaper is not always the best value. The award-winning and nationally recognized programs listed below are just a few of the reasons our most successful graduates consistently cite UNI as a major factor in preparing them for their achievements in life and in the workplace.

Excellence in Assessment

The University of Northern Iowa was named as one of just seven members of the 2019 class of Excellence in Assessment designees, a national program aimed at recognizing colleges and universities conducting comprehensive assessment of student learning outcomes as a means to drive internal improvement and advance student success. 

Excellence in Education

The UNI College of Business Administration has an outstanding reputation thanks to its small, selective MBA program. UNIBusiness has been recognized consistently as being one of the "Best Business Schools" by Princeton Review. 

The University of Northern Iowa is ranked second in the "Best Regional Universities (Midwest)" category for public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2020 "America's Best Colleges" guidebook. UNI also was 20th on a combined list of all public and private Midwest regional universities and 14th in the list of Best Colleges or Universities in the Midwest for veterans.

The UNI MBA has been listed among U.S. News & World Report's top part-time MBA programs. U.S. News & World Report's rankings are among the most widely sought-after university recognition sources in the world. The ranking is limited to AACSB International-accredited part-time programs. Criteria include assessment by business school deans, admission selectivity and students' prior work experience.

Social and Environmental Responsibility

UNI is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission North Central Association. 

UNI earned a "Gold" rating from the (STARS). The highest rating for any school in Iowa, UNI received this designation for its commitment in making operational decisions that are socially responsible, make economic sense and are environmentally friendly.

The Carnegie Foundation granted the University of Northern Iowa a special designation in Community Engagement: Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnerships. This new designation reflects the foundation's recognition of UNI's strong commitment to community service on a local, regional, national and global level. UNI serves and shares its expertise with the larger community in a variety of ways, as well as involving students in this important process. Research shows that the more students participate in meaningful experiences inside and outside of the classroom, the more they gain from their education. 

Military-Friendly

UNI has been listed among U.S. News & World Report's top College for Veterans.

The University of Northern Iowa was again selected by G.I. Jobs Magazine as a Military Friendly School for 2017, an honor placing the university in the top 20% of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.