According to US News and World Report's 2020 "Best Universities in America" guide, the University of Northern Iowa ranks second among public universities. UNI ranks 20th among all public and private universities in the Midwest, 55th among the most valuable universities in the United States, and 14 among colleges or universities.
The MBA of the University of Northern Iowa has been included in the top on-the-job MBA program of US News and World Report. The ranking of US News and World Report is one of the most popular sources of university accreditation in the world. The ranking is limited to on-the-job projects internationally recognized by AACSB. Criteria include dean's evaluation, admission selection and students' previous work experience.