CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa has received national recognition in Washington Monthly’s 2025 College Rankings, earning a place among the nation’s Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars. 

At No. 126 overall, UNI is the highest-ranked university in Iowa, and places ahead of every college and university in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota, as well as all but one institution in Illinois (the University of Illinois-Chicago).

In addition to its overall ranking, UNI also earned high marks for its strong community and public service. The magazine ranked UNI 17th in the nation for service among all colleges and universities. Among master’s-level universities, UNI placed 4th in the nation for service and 25th overall.

“Washington Monthly’s focus on economic mobility and public service aligns well with UNI’s mission, which makes this recognition particularly fulfilling,” said University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook.

Washington Monthly’s methodology incorporates measures such as national service, military service, community engagement, student voting participation, and the share of graduates pursuing careers in education, health and social work.

“The rankings highlight areas where UNI consistently excels,” said Scott Peters, head of the Department of Political Science. “Our strong tradition of civic engagement, student voting and commitment to preparing graduates for careers in service-oriented fields are central to UNI’s identity.”

That tradition of service will also be highlighted during the UNI Sesquicentennial Celebration, which includes a campus-wide Day of Service on April 8. Alumni are also encouraged to commit 150 minutes of service in their own communities throughout the spring.

The magazine’s service score reflects colleges’ performance in areas such as AmeriCorps and Peace Corps participation, ROTC programs, work-study funds spent on community service, and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Voting engagement measures also contributed, along with the percentage of degrees awarded in socially valuable but often lower-paid fields.

Washington Monthly, known for ranking colleges based on contributions to the public good, publishes its annual list each fall.