10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$171,024at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · 56 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 52 · Federal debt reported for 41
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$171,024 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
33.6 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−70%Estimated return after 10 years
$52,258Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $9,986 housing and food allowance plus $2,650 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$107,420
$8,000Annual price−$139,420
$16,000Current college-wide context−$171,420
$24,000Annual price−$203,420
$32,000Annual price−$235,420
$40,000Annual price−$267,420
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
48 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Iowa run 12% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$15,901Average net price / year
$22,278Cost of attendance
$19,691Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$209/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$52,258Median earnings · year 5 after completion
67.9%Completion rate
92.7%Admission rate
1,122Average SAT score
23ACT midpoint
7,529Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University of Northern Iowa
What does University of Northern Iowa cost?
University of Northern Iowa reports an average annual net price of $15,901 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of Northern Iowa graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $52,258 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of Northern Iowa graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $19,691. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of Northern Iowa worth the same?
No. The current release contains 56 field-and-degree records for University of Northern Iowa; 52 report year-4 earnings and 41 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
10,563Students enrolled at any point
8,463Undergraduate students
2,100Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
61% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
1,303 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
69% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$52,950Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$54,132Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$56,719Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income58%
Middle income75%
Higher income78%
Undergraduate student composition
White83%
Black3%
Hispanic6%
Asian2%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 15
$91,284Year 1
$102,996Year 5
$165,855Year 10
Computer Programming.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$63,061Year 1
$89,527Year 5
$131,944Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$69,081Year 1
$99,758Year 5
$125,381Year 10
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 13
$83,557Year 1
$102,395Year 5
$102,529Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 15
$71,899Year 1
$82,718Year 5
$101,595Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$54,356Year 1
$79,967Year 5
$94,831Year 10
African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 16
$71,441Year 1
$73,872Year 5
$85,664Year 10
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 13
$66,277Year 1
$72,747Year 5
$83,287Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$43,293Year 1
$54,830Year 4
$52,258Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$89,3052Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's Degree$87,5803Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$87,0034Construction Management · Bachelor's Degree$85,6885Real Estate · Bachelor's Degree$83,5926Accounting and Related Services · Bachelor's Degree$82,6417Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's Degree$81,1728Educational Administration and Supervision · Master's Degree$81,109Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1GerontologyBachelor's Degree · $63,876 reported+18%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree · $81,109 reported+13%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt3Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree · $70,149 reported+10%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree · $74,838 reported+10%vs same-degree national median$19,500federal debt5Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $62,391 reported+9%vs same-degree national median$21,500federal debt6English Language and Literature, GeneralMaster's Degree · $60,443 reported+9%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt
Comparable colleges in IA
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Council Bluffs, IA
Iowa Western Community College
- Annual net price
- $14,629
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $49,011
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -83%
Northwest Iowa Community College
- Annual net price
- $14,800
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $56,526
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -52%
Des Moines Area Community College
- Annual net price
- $11,171
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $48,336
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -85%
Eastern Iowa Community College District
- Annual net price
- $14,017
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $44,928
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -100%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 56 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $89,305 | $26,200 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Bachelor's Degree | $87,580 | $23,213 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $87,003 | Not available | Not reported |
| Construction Management | Bachelor's Degree | $85,688 | $23,000 | Not reported |
| Real Estate | Bachelor's Degree | $83,592 | $23,125 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $82,641 | $21,525 | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $81,172 | $20,750 | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Master's Degree | $81,109 | Not available | Not reported |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $76,329 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $74,838 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $72,757 | $17,750 | Not reported |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $71,905 | $17,169 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Master's Degree | $70,149 | Not available | Not reported |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Master's Degree | $64,309 | Not available | Not reported |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Master's Degree | $64,303 | Not available | Not reported |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | Bachelor's Degree | $64,067 | $21,096 | Not reported |
| Gerontology | Bachelor's Degree | $63,876 | Not available | Not reported |
| Mathematics | Master's Degree | $62,739 | Not available | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $62,391 | $21,500 | Not reported |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $60,509 | $18,067 | Not reported |
| English Language and Literature, General | Master's Degree | $60,443 | Not available | Not reported |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Master's Degree | $60,414 | Not available | Not reported |
| Social Work | Master's Degree | $59,834 | Not available | Not reported |
| Public Administration | Bachelor's Degree | $58,307 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Master's Degree | $57,224 | Not available | Not reported |
| Criminology | Bachelor's Degree | $54,993 | $24,683 | Not reported |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Bachelor's Degree | $54,965 | $23,251 | Not reported |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's Degree | $54,629 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | Master's Degree | $53,892 | Not available | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $53,829 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $53,506 | $19,387 | Not reported |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $53,198 | $24,594 | Not reported |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | Bachelor's Degree | $52,202 | $20,844 | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Bachelor's Degree | $51,712 | $26,400 | Not reported |
| Social Work | Bachelor's Degree | $50,629 | $22,847 | Not reported |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $50,277 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Bachelor's Degree | $50,144 | $26,000 | Not reported |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | Bachelor's Degree | $49,794 | $19,604 | Not reported |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $49,313 | $21,776 | Not reported |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $48,506 | $23,907 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Search every University of Northern Iowa program record →Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.