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Is Upper Iowa University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Upper Iowa, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Upper Iowa lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $20,942 in yearly net price and $25,000 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $52,766. For context, Upper Iowa's net price is about 2% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$22,427
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $410 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $2,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$20,942
Median earnings 10 years out
$52,766
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
38%
At Upper Iowa, a typical graduate carries about $25,000 in student debt and earns roughly $52,766 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $284 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Upper Iowa is a private nonprofit four year school in Fayette, IA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Loras
Dubuque, IA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $20,716
Private nonprofit 4-year
Grand View
Des Moines, IA
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $21,774
Private nonprofit 4-year
Mount Mercy
Cedar Rapids, IA
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $20,168
Private nonprofit 4-year
Simpson
Indianola, IA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $21,936
Private nonprofit 4-year
Waldorf
Forest City, IA
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $19,693
Common questions about Upper Iowa
The median net price at Upper Iowa is $20,942 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable private colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →