History, Affiliations and Rankings

Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is among the oldest public universities in Iowa. Elizabeth Alexander, a pioneer residing near what is now Fayette, Iowa, introduced the concept of a college to her husband, Robert, in 1854. The first Board of Trustees meeting took place in 1856, and the articles of incorporation were adopted. By 1920, a systematic extension program had begun in northeast Iowa, with Upper Iowa being referred to as "a pioneer in the area." The Upper Iowa University has affiliations with the Council of Independent Colleges, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Upper Iowa ranks #119 - 157 in Regional Universities Midwest by US News & World Report 2022.

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

The Fayette campus is mainly for a bachelor's program, but a postgraduate program in education is also offered, alongside a two-week IXEL course in the summer. Students have a choice to select from 40 majors. The Pleggenkuhle Prairie is used as an educational tool for students to learn about the prairie ecosystem and to conduct prescribed burns and experiments at the site. The academic amenities on the Fayette campus are state-of-the-art due to an aggressive renovation of the old buildings since the past decade and new construction is currently going on. The recreational amenities include free student events, a gym, and free golf at the local 18-hole course. The university also offers rock wall climbing and a specially designed ropes program.

Accomplishments and Alumni 

The Upper Iowa University is accredited by Higher Learning Commission. The University has also been approved by the Louisiana Higher Education Board, the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board, and the Iowa Department of Education (for teacher education in Iowa only). The notable alumni are William V. Allen, United States Senator from Nebraska, 1893 – 1901, William F. Albright, an archaeologist who worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls and William Andres, Former President of Dayton Hudson, now known as Target.

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

Upper Iowa University values diversity in all its dimensions. The University has more than 6,100 student enrolments with more than 460 faculty within the premises. They have students hailing from all over the world on the campus. The male to female ratio is 39:61 at the Upper Iowa University making it a fairly gender-balanced university. Some of the leading recruiters at this institute are Deloitte UK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Skyscanner, and others.