Degree Programs Offered at Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Great College Deals: Master of Public Administration Online.
Upper Iowa University offers nearly 40 bachelor’s degree programs for undergrads and four Associate of Arts programs. The A.A. programs are a good choice for students who want to attend college but aren’t ready to commit to a four-year degree program. They can choose from majors such as criminal justice and general business. Another general program offered by the university is a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. This program gives students the option of studying different subjects in the liberal arts without picking a specific major. Some of the other majors Upper Iowa University offers for undergrads include:
- software engineering
- human services
- psychology
- graphic design
- business administration
- biology
- agricultural business
Five graduate degree programs are also available from Upper Iowa University. It offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) for students who want to learn about creating business plans before launching their own companies. This program also allows students to learn more about different areas of business, including marketing and human resources management.
A similar program awards students a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and helps them work as managers and leaders in nonprofit and public organizations. The university offers graduate programs in:
- education
- sport management
- counseling
Also available are 10 certificate programs in fields such as:
- business administration
- healthcare management
- public management
- teacher leadership
- accounting
The university introduced its first distance education programs in 1973 and now offers similar programs for online students. Each program follows a self-paced format that allows students to learn at a pace that works for them. All four of the associate’s degree programs are available online, including majors in psychology and liberal arts.
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree can choose from more than 20 majors such as:
- social science
- public administration
- communication
- business administration
- emergency and disaster management
The business administration program includes concentrations such as:
- mass media studies
- communication studies
- human resource management
- health services administration
Upper Iowa University also offers its MBA and MPA programs online. Graduate students can earn degrees in education and sports administration online, too.
About Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students through its campus in Fayette, Iowa. Established in 1857, it opened after a local family donated land and money for a new college campus. The college had a close connection to the Civil War because its students both made supplies for soldiers and joined in the war efforts as soldiers.
Enrollment at the college grew significantly after World War II as it was one of the main schools in Iowa that accepted the GI Bill. Now known as Upper Iowa University and UIU, it offers some of the oldest distance education programs in the state. Those programs accept students from all across the Midwest and those living in other parts of the nation. UIU also offers programs through extension and education centers across the state that let students take classes with professors leading and working with them. The private university has an enrollment of more than 6,100 students.
Upper Iowa University Accreditation Details
UIU has specialized accreditation for its nursing degree programs, which comes from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This accreditation covers all the courses in those programs and the practicums and clinical work that nursing majors do in the field. UIU also has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This regional accreditation is required by the U.S. Department of Education. The university can use government funds when designing financial aid programs and evaluate students’ transcripts to give them credit for the classes they already took.
Upper Iowa University Application Requirements
Students applying to UIU only need to submit a few documents when they finish the application. The application essentially introduces the student to the university and helps it decide whether the applicant would be a good fit for his or her desired program. UIU asks that freshmen applicants have either a high school diploma, a GED or a passing score on a high school equivalency exam.
Students must provide:
- an application
- standardized test score
- high school transcript or equivalency documents
Once the university accepts a student, it will ask for an enrollment deposit of $250 and an official high school transcript that lists the date the student graduated. Those planning to live on-campus should also submit a housing form, which UIU will use to place that student in a residence hall.
The UIU process for grad students is fairly similar. Students must have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the one they want to study and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Those with a lower GPA must show that they maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 credits of classes they attempted or the last two years of their schooling. Education majors may need to submit copies of their teaching licenses or credentials. All prospective graduate students must provide two letters of recommendation. UIU encourages students to submit standardized test scores such as an official GRE score.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The cost of attendance at UIU depends on which campus the student attends. Undergrads on the Fayette campus pay $15,405 per semester for full-time enrollment. The cost is $1,281 per credit hour for part-time enrollment. They also pay fees of $875 each year.
Graduate students pay between $482 and $585 per credit hour. Students taking classes at one of the university’s education centers pay a flat rate based on the number of credits they take. This ranges from $609 to more than $1,400 per credit hour. IUI also offers on-campus housing and meal plans that will add $6,000 or more to the costs that students pay each semester.
When students submit the FAFSA and use the code for UIU on the form, they can see if they qualify for university and/or government aid. Government aid includes several grant programs such as the PELL grant and both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The parents of enrolled students can also apply for government loans. UIU accepts alternative and private loans and has scholarships that students can get too. Students can apply for these scholarships when they submit an application to Upper Iowa University.