The University of Northern Iowa's commitment to putting "Students First" firmly established its reputation among colleges in Iowa for providing first-rate educational experiences. The nation's most highly respected reporting organizations consistently rank the University of Northern Iowa among the best for program quality, value and outcomes.
 
For the 10th consecutive year, the University of Northern Iowa is ranked second in the "Midwestern Universities - Master's" category for public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2007 America's Best Colleges. The University of Northern Iowa also ranked 18th on a combined list of public and private Midwest regional universities.
 
The University of Northern Iowa is ranked in first place for the pass rate of first-time candidates on the Uniform Certified Public Accounting (CPA) Examination in May 2003, the most recent May exam for which data is available.

The University of Northern Iowa has been cited for its high performance in graduation rates in a national report released by the Education Trust, a Washington, D.C.-based organization. When comparing the University of Northern Iowa to 42 similar colleges in Iowa and across the nation with similar students, the University of Northern Iowa's median six-year graduation rate of 67 percent ranked 19 percentage points higher than its peer institutions.