The Campanile, a bell tower built in 1926, stands in the middle of UNI's campus in Cedar Falls, a small city on the Cedar River in north-east Iowa. The university started as a teachers' school in 1876 and still trains many of Iowa's teachers. Today it also has the Wilson College of Business, a strong accounting department and computer science. Tuition is moderate and rent is cheap.
Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States
Official website: uni.edu
1876, as Iowa State Normal School
Public university in Iowa
Wilson College of Business
The Campanile, built 1926
$20,000 – $23,000
International students, full-time, approximate
$10,000 – $13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on uni.edu before you apply.
BA Accounting
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BA Elementary Education
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Teacher education dating back to 1876.
An accounting programme with close links to Iowa firms.
A walkable campus centred on the Campanile.
Accounting and finance graduates join firms in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Chicago.
Computing graduates work in insurance, manufacturing and agricultural technology, including John Deere in nearby Waterloo.
STEM graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Cedar Falls has a small Main Street with coffee shops and restaurants, plus bike trails along the Cedar River. The larger city of Waterloo runs straight into it.
Winters are cold and snowy, summers warm. Living costs are low, and Des Moines is under two hours away by car.
Form I-20 issued by University of Northern Iowa
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
UNI reviews applications on a rolling basis. International students should apply by around May for fall and October for spring. Graduate programmes may set earlier dates.
Most programmes start in fall (August), and many undergraduate programmes also accept spring (January) starts.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, University of Northern Iowa issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Accounting, computer science, business and education are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school results and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 71. Master's programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79.
UNI offers merit scholarships to international undergraduates, awarded at admission. Graduate assistantships with tuition support are available in some departments.
