Washington State University (WSU) vs University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Pullman, Washington, and Cedar Falls, Iowa, home to Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences. WSU boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while UNI maintains a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Explore their contrasting popular majors, from WSU's strength in engineering and agriculture to UNI's focus on education and nursing. Discover the nuances in their graduation rates, reflecting each institution's unique approach to student success. Delve into the comparison table to uncover further insights into these two esteemed universities and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Northern Iowa logo

University of Northern Iowa

Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Overview

Location Cedar Falls, Iowa Pullman, Washington
Campus setting City: Small Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 81.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.8% 85.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range 980 - 1190 N/A
ACT range 20 - 26 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 66.0%
Total number of applicants 4,772 18,197
Total number of admissions given out 4,094 15,607
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,553 4,007
Yield rate 37.9% 25.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $21,409

Out of state: $32,109
In state: $28,767

Out of state: $44,083
Average net price $15,231 $11,877
Tuition
In state: $7,780

Out of state: $18,480
In state: $10,457

Out of state: $25,773
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,699

Meal plan: $4,461
Room/dormitory: $7,400

Meal plan: $4,350
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $6,227
86.0%
Average amount $9,993
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,115
27.0%
Average amount $5,042
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $7,770
3.0%
Average amount $15,454

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,967
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
24,278
Men 45.9% Women 54.1%
Graduate students 1,250
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
5,565
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 9.5% 15.2%
International students 2.4% 5.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 3,412 7,043
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Missouri Washington California Oregon Idaho Hawaii

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.9% 59.5%
Dropout rate 9.5% 38.1%
Transferred out 20.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,668
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $72,923
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,120
  • Year 2: $60,399
  • Year 3: $71,051
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,778
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $70,112
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,521
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $65,647
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,320
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,408
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,657
  • Year 3: $63,798
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,695
  • Year 2: $52,908
  • Year 3: $60,640
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,123
  • Year 2: $49,752
  • Year 3: $57,498
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,675
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $57,318
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,372
  • Year 2: $45,221
  • Year 3: $57,298
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $135,393
  • Year 3: $143,888
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,911
  • Year 2: $123,178
  • Year 3: $127,531
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,080
  • Year 2: $100,915
  • Year 3: $120,737
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,957
  • Year 2: $112,073
  • Year 3: $119,910
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,275
  • Year 2: $105,813
  • Year 3: $117,478
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,971
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $96,760
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,468
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $88,746
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,693
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $81,535
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,112
  • Year 2: $68,808
  • Year 3: $80,939
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,531
  • Year 2: $72,881
  • Year 3: $79,650

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