Financial aid for UNI students reaches $102.5 million in 2024-25

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The amount of financial aid distributed to students at the University of Northern Iowa continues to climb, now up to $102.5 million for the 2024-25 academic year,with scholarships and grants making up more than half.

The majority of first-year UNI students receive some form of financial aid. Most commonly, aid is federally funded, but it also comes from the state, the institution, the UNI Foundation or other sources.

"While financial aid is ever-changing, we are especially proud of being able to continually offer aid programs and timely advice to assist students with achieving their educational goals," said Tim Bakula, director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

The amount of debt taken on by UNI students remains well below state and national averages, and is the lowest of any four-year public university in Iowa. 45% of UNI students graduate with no debt at all.

Financial literacy is key to maintaining low indebtedness amongst UNI students. The University of Northern Iowa requires all first-year students to complete one of two financial literacy courses. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships also provides expert guidance, including private loan counseling, to help students make educated financial aid decisions.

As the top producer of educators in the state, providing future teachers with robust financial aid options is essential to UNI's mission. The university has participated in the Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant since its inception in 2008. The program supports students planning to teach in high-need fields at low-income schools, and provides up to $4,000 per year - four years as an undergraduate student and two years as a graduate student. During the 2024-25 academic year, UNI ranked No. 2 nationally in TEACH Grant dollars disbursed, awarding nearly 800 Panthers through the program.