Match #1
Maharishi University of Management
Fairfield, IA
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate96%
- 922 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 27%, close to 31%
- Acceptance rate 96%, close to 96%
The colleges most similar to Upper Iowa University are Maharishi University of Management, University of Dubuque, and Grand View University. Upper Iowa University admits 96% of applicants and has an average net price of $21,119 a year; 3 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 1 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Upper Iowa University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Upper Iowa University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate89%
- 1,440 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Enrollment 1,440 students, close to 1,994
- Acceptance rate 89%, close to 96%
Match #3
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate99%
- 1,486 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 1,486 students, close to 1,994
- Average net price $21,705, close to $21,119
Match #4
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate81%
- 798 students
- Private nonprofit
- Rural: Remote
- Average net price $19,899, close to $21,119
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #5
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate83%
- 1,107 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Average net price $23,935, close to $21,119
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #6
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA
Profile closeness65/100
Admit rate78%
- 1,366 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 1,366 students, close to 1,994
- Average net price $18,855, close to $21,119
Match #7
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, IA
Profile closeness63/100
Admit rate52%
- 1,301 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Remote
- Graduation rate 38%, close to 31%
- Average net price $23,749, close to $21,119
Match #8
Morningside College
Sioux City, IA
Profile closeness60/100
Admit rate71%
- 1,163 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Same Carnegie classification
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #9
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA
Profile closeness60/100
Admit rate77%
- 1,916 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 1,916 students, close to 1,994
- Average net price $23,689, close to $21,119
Match #10
Central College-Iowa
Pella, IA
Profile closeness59/100
Admit rate86%
- 1,070 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Distant
- Average net price $22,894, close to $21,119
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Questions about Upper Iowa University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Upper Iowa University?
The closest matches to Upper Iowa University are Maharishi University of Management, University of Dubuque, Grand View University, Graceland University-Lamoni, and Mount Mercy University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Upper Iowa University hard to get into?
Upper Iowa University admitted 96% of its 1,240 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 1 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Upper Iowa University alternatives cost less?
3 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Upper Iowa University ($21,119 a year), including Maharishi University of Management ($16,579), Buena Vista University ($18,855), and Graceland University-Lamoni ($19,899). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
