Best Colleges report lists UNI as the Midwest’s top public regional university  

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – For the first time, the University of Northern Iowa has earned the distinction of being named the No. 1 public regional university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

The 2027 edition of the Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to help students and families measure academic quality, graduate success and the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings have been published annually since 1983.

“The University of Northern Iowa is honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for our ongoing dedication to student success, our outstanding graduation rates and the exceptional value we offer to families across the Midwest,” said UNI Director of University Relations Pete Moris.

Graduation rates and graduation rate performance are among the most heavily weighted criteria in the Best Colleges rankings. UNI’s four-year graduation rate stands more than 25 percentage points above its national peers, and one in eight students now graduates in three years. The average student debt of UNI graduates also remains well below the state and national averages for public universities.

Peer assessment is another significant factor in UNI’s ranking. The measure reflects how UNI is regarded by top administrators at peer institutions and accounts for attributes such as student success and social mobility, affordability and graduate outcomes, faculty and institutional resources, and academic performance of incoming students.

UNI also ranked No. 6 among Midwest universities for the value it provides to in-state students, reflecting the university’s combination of academic quality and affordability. That value continues to resonate with Iowa families: UNI welcomed 1,449 new freshmen from Iowa this fall, a 3.4% increase over 2025.

“UNI remains firmly committed to serving the people of Iowa and meeting the workforce needs of employers in all 99 of the state’s counties,” Moris said. “Our reputation for producing leaders in business, education and numerous other fields has been developed over many decades. Now, employers are turning to UNI to provide highly skilled graduates to fill in-demand workforce needs in health care, applied engineering, construction management, social work, computer science and a variety of additional professions.” 

UNI also ranked No. 4 among its Midwest peers for its support of veterans and active-duty service members. The institution has earned a Military Friendly Schools® designation in each of the past seven years.

The University of Northern Iowa has enrolled 1,709 freshmen for the current academic year, the highest total in nearly a decade. UNI’s overall population of 9,366 students is the most since 2020.

Tuition and fees for the 2026-27 academic year at the University of Northern Iowa are $10,505 for new undergraduate students from the state of Iowa. Through UNI’s Neighboring State Rate, new undergrads from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin also pay the same tuition and fees as Iowa residents.