Business School

Business School at University of Northern Iowa

Public university ยท Cedar Falls, Iowa

  • AACSB accredited
  • MBA

University of Northern Iowa is a public university with graduate business programs in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Those programs run through the David. W. Wilson College of Business. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The business school holds AACSB accreditation. It is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States, and it covers the school as a whole rather than any one program - a floor, not a ranking. More on accreditation.

Federal reporting puts graduate enrollment at 1,567 students, alongside 7,529 undergraduates. Total enrollment is not MBA cohort size - ask the admissions office how many students are in the specific program you're considering, which is usually a far smaller number and the one that shapes your experience.

Based on MBA Lab's directory data, the school offers a graduate MBA path. Format availability changes; confirm the current lineup with the school before planning around it.

It is the only school in Cedar Falls in this directory - the other 3 business school options in Iowa are elsewhere in the state, so weigh travel time against fit before ruling them out.

What to ask University of Northern Iowa

These questions are picked from what MBA Lab's data already says about this school, so they're the ones most likely to surface a real difference between it and the next school on your list.

  • Residency and tuition tier. As a public institution, University of Northern Iowa may price in-state and out-of-state students differently, and some programs charge a flat rate regardless. Ask which tier you'd fall into and whether it changes after a year of residency.
  • Where the degree is administered. Programs run through the David. W. Wilson College of Business may have their own admissions timeline, aid pool, and career office, separate from the university's central graduate school. Confirm which office owns your application.
  • Ask for the school's own outcome numbers. The federal figures on this page cover business master's graduates who took federal aid, pooled across several years. The school's employment report will be narrower and more current - ask for it by program and by graduating class, not a blended average.

At a glance

InstitutionUniversity of Northern Iowa
Business schoolDavid. W. Wilson College of Business
Controlpublic
LocationCedar Falls, Iowa
Campus settingSmall city
Carnegie classMaster's college or university (larger programs)
MBA formats listed MBA
Graduate enrollment1,567
Undergraduate enrollment7,529
Business accreditation AACSB — view listing
Institutional accreditationHigher Learning Commission
Official site Visit website
Net price calculator Estimate your cost
Federal data College Scorecard profile

School names, locations, and program formats are curated by MBA Lab and reviewed periodically (last data update: August 2026). Enrollment, accreditation, links, and any outcome figures come from U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Always verify formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. How this data works.

Programs at University of Northern Iowa

Details below come from University of Northern Iowa's own program pages, not from a ranking service or an aggregator. Each card links to the page it was read from and the date it was last checked, so you can confirm anything before you plan around it.

Wilson MBA

MBA
$19,464
  • Credits 30
  • Delivery Online
What that price is$19,464 total including technology fees for the accelerated one-year fully-online track (five courses/year); the standard two-year online pace totals $24,210 instead
On length10 courses; fully online (transitioned to online-only starting summer 2024, full course lineup online since fall 2025). Includes three stackable graduate certificates within the program: Business Fundamentals, Managerial Analytics, and Strategic Leadership and Innovation. Tuition figure not confirmed on the pages checked this pass.

Reported outcomes

Median earnings, 1 year out $78,244 Median of 21 graduates working one year after completion -10% vs. the $87,219 median across MBA Lab's directory
Median earnings, 4 years out $87,003 Median of 16 graduates working four years after completion +11% against the 1-year figure - two separate cohorts measured at different times, not one group's career path

Among the 4 schools in MBA Lab's Iowa business schools directory that report a figure, University of Northern Iowa ranks 4th by one-year earnings. Schools that report nothing are left out of that count rather than counted as zero.

What these numbers are. Figures cover graduates of master's-level programs in Business Administration, Management and Operations (CIP 52.02) who received federal financial aid. At some institutions that group includes business master's degrees other than the MBA, and it never includes graduates who took no federal aid - so these are a directional signal about a school's business master's programs, not an MBA salary report. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Check University of Northern Iowa's Scorecard profile. Full methodology.

Want to see what these figures could mean for your own timeline? Try the free MBA ROI calculator, prefilled with University of Northern Iowa's context.

Compare with other schools in Iowa

School City AACSB Formats listed Earnings, 1 yr out
University of Northern Iowa This page Cedar Falls Yes MBA $78,244
Iowa State University Ames Yes MBA, Executive MBA, Part-Time MBA $94,720
University of Iowa Iowa City Yes MBA, Online MBA $116,611
Drake University Des Moines Yes MBA, Online MBA $91,098

"Not reported" means College Scorecard publishes no figure for that school - usually too few federally-aided graduates to release without identifying them. It is not a low number, and these schools are excluded from every average on this page rather than counted as zero. A dash under AACSB means the school isn't on AACSB's accredited list; it may hold ACBSP or IACBE accreditation instead, which this directory doesn't track.

This school in other directories

Frequently asked questions

What MBA formats does University of Northern Iowa offer?

MBA Lab's directory lists an MBA path at University of Northern Iowa. Check the school's official site for current formats such as online, evening, or executive options.

How much does the Wilson MBA at University of Northern Iowa cost?

University of Northern Iowa lists $19,464 for the Wilson MBA. $19,464 total including technology fees for the accelerated one-year fully-online track (five courses/year); the standard two-year online pace totals $24,210 instead. Checked against the school's own page on July 27, 2026; costs change, so confirm before you apply.

How long is the Wilson MBA at University of Northern Iowa, and when does it meet?

The Wilson MBA requires 30 credits and is delivered fully online. 10 courses; fully online (transitioned to online-only starting summer 2024, full course lineup online since fall 2025). Includes three stackable graduate certificates within the program: Business Fundamentals, Managerial Analytics, and Strategic Leadership and Innovation. Tuition figure not confirmed on the pages checked this pass.

What do graduates of University of Northern Iowa's business master's programs earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of $78,244 one year after completion for graduates of master's-level Business Administration programs at University of Northern Iowa who received federal financial aid. Four years out the reported median is $87,003. That group can include business master's degrees other than the MBA, and excludes graduates who took no federal aid, so treat it as a directional signal rather than an MBA salary figure.

Is University of Northern Iowa's business school AACSB-accredited?

Yes - University of Northern Iowa appears on AACSB's list of accredited institutions. AACSB, founded in 1916, is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States (the others are ACBSP and IACBE). Accreditation covers the school, not any individual program, so treat it as a quality floor rather than a ranking.

Is University of Northern Iowa a public or private institution?

University of Northern Iowa is a public university, and MBA Lab lists its graduate business programs in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How do I compare University of Northern Iowa with other schools in Iowa?

MBA Lab lists 4 schools in its Iowa business schools directory. Use a consistent rubric across them: curriculum, recruiting outcomes, format fit, cost after aid, and location constraints.

Where should I verify program details?

Always confirm formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. MBA Lab is a planning directory, not an admissions authority, and does not endorse specific schools.

Starting an MBA team project?

MBA Lab keeps your team's projects, tasks, deadlines, and deliverables in one place—built for student teams, free to start.

Get started

Deciding if it's worth it? Try the free MBA ROI calculator →

Want to grow as a leader while you're at it? Explore Leadership Lab →