Graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn median 4-year earnings of $54,830, placing the institution in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,545 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Northern Iowa in the 43.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Northern Iowa #803 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's focus on Business and related fields. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods is the largest program with 372 graduates earning median earnings of $45,885 four years after enrollment — 1.0× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks the program #129 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Azimuth ranks Finance and Financial Management Services #80 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 141 graduates earning $81,172, and Business Administration, Management and Operations ranks #113 nationally with 134 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,838.
Graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn median 4-year earnings of $54,830, placing the institution in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,545 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Northern Iowa in the 43.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Northern Iowa #803 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's focus on Business and related fields. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods is the largest program with 372 graduates earning median earnings of $45,885 four years after enrollment — 1.0× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks the program #129 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Azimuth ranks Finance and Financial Management Services #80 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 141 graduates earning $81,172, and Business Administration, Management and Operations ranks #113 nationally with 134 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,838.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $19,691 in debt with typical earnings.
Graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn median 4-year earnings of $54,830, placing the institution in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,545 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Northern Iowa in the 43.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Northern Iowa #803 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's focus on Business and related fields. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods is the largest program with 372 graduates earning median earnings of $45,885 four years after enrollment — 1.0× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks the program #129 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Azimuth ranks Finance and Financial Management Services #80 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 141 graduates earning $81,172, and Business Administration, Management and Operations ranks #113 nationally with 134 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,838.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
University of Northern Iowa's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields — a signature typical of regional public universities in the Midwest that prepare graduates for direct entry into the workforce. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 25% of degree output, followed by Education at 23% and Social Sciences at 5%. Across 59 programs, 34 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 2,240 students annually. Teacher Education stands out as the program combining the largest graduate cohort with strong four-year earnings, making it the institution's primary economic anchor. Azimuth ranks Teacher Education #117 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 372 graduates earning $45,885. Finance and Business Administration are also among the most-enrolled programs, with Azimuth ranking Finance #65 and Business Administration #74 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the university's breadth across applied and professional disciplines. The highest-earning programs at University of Northern Iowa cluster in business-adjacent and technical fields. Azimuth ranks Finance #65 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 141 graduates earning $81,172. Business Administration and Digital Marketing follow closely, with Azimuth ranking them #74 and #67 respectively for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, earning $74,838 and $72,757. These programs represent high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter regional and national labor markets in accounting, finance, and management roles. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how these fields align with current hiring trends.
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn median 4-year earnings of $54,830, placing the institution in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,545 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Northern Iowa in the 43.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Northern Iowa #803 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects the institution's focus on Business and related fields. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods is the largest program with 372 graduates earning median earnings of $45,885 four years after enrollment — 1.0× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks the program #129 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Azimuth ranks Finance and Financial Management Services #80 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 141 graduates earning $81,172, and Business Administration, Management and Operations ranks #113 nationally with 134 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,838.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
