Admitted Students
Congratulations! Your next step: accept your offer.
We can't wait for you to officially join the Panther Family. To accept your offer of admission, you will need your username and password to log into MyUNIverse. Completing your offer of admission includes payment of a $320 acceptance fee. If you are unable to pay the required fee at this time, you can request to defer the fee payment.
Your next steps
- Accept your offer.
Accepting your offer is a big step that opens the door to your next steps! To do so, you'll complete a short form and pay the $320 acceptance fee. A fee deferral is available for those with financial need.
Note: You will need your university CatID to login and complete this step.
- Submit UNI Scholarship App.
Once admitted, you can apply for hundreds of scholarships across campus using the UNI Scholarship Application. The deadline is February 7.
Note: The application and deadline do not pertain to the scholarships you’re automatically considered for upon admission.
- File your FAFSA.
To be considered for financial aid, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted. It is tentatively opening December 1. The priority deadline is tentatively set to February 7. After this date, less aid will be available. Include UNI's FAFSA code of 001890 so we can send you a financial aid offer in spring.
- Finalize your housing contract.
If you plan to live on campus, you can start on your contract as early as October. Once your contract is complete (and you've accepted your offer of admission), you’ll be set for room selection. The sooner yours is done, the earlier in line you'll be to select your room!
- Register for orientation.
Orientation is a required and important first step to starting your journey at UNI. During orientation, you’ll meet one-on-one with your academic advisor and register for your classes.
New incoming freshmen beginning in the summer or fall will attend a one-day summer orientation, offered weekly throughout June and early July. Transfer students can choose from orientation dates in April, May, and June. Availability of dates varies by major.
Registration for orientation opens on February 12. Before signing up, you will need to accept your offer of admission.
- Select your housing
Did you know you get to pick your exact dorm room during our official online housing selection? Only students with accepted offers of admission and completed contracts can participate.
- Request your final, official transcripts be sent to us.
With something as big as college, it’s not surprising it comes with a little paperwork. Freshmen and transfer students will need to request official high-school transcript and any college credit transcript(s) be sent directly to UNI’s Office of Admissions. Applicable test scores (ACT/SAT and AP, CLEP or IB classes) must be sent directly from the testing institutions to us.
- Wrap up your “Before Orientation Tasks” and attend orientation.
In preparation for your orientation, you’ll have tasks to complete at least 10 days beforehand, within your online orientation portal, which will be made available to you by email months before your session. Things to cross off include declaring your major, documenting your college credit and taking the ALEKS Math Placement Exam (requirement for freshmen students).
- Move in and participate in Panther Welcome.
Held the weekend before classes begin, our Panther Welcome will help you transition to college life. You’ll become acquainted with campus, participate in fun activities – all while meeting other new UNI students! The Jump Start program is also available and open to all students but is specifically designed for underrepresented students and those who have participated in AVID and TRIO programs (such as Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search).
- Can I defer my acceptance fee?
Yes, when you accept your offer, you can select "accept your offer of admission with fee deferral", which allows you to defer payment of the line items covered by this fee until your first university bill.
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- What's the acceptance fee refund policy?
Full details on the fee and our refund policy.
- When will I receive scholarship information?
After October 1, students will be typically notified within two weeks of admittance to the university.
- When will I receive my financial aid offer?
If you have completed your FAFSA by the January 15 priority deadline, you will receive your financial aid offer, sent electronically and by mail, by mid-February. Those who file after mid-February will receive their offer electronically a week after the FAFSA has been submitted. You'll receive a mailed version within a week or so of your electronic version. As a reminder, UNI's FAFSA code is 001890.
- What date do classes start for the fall 2025 term?
The first day of classes for the fall semester is Monday, August 25, 2025. If you are starting at the spring semester, classes begin Tuesday, January 21, 2023. All students will be required to attend orientation before this date. For these dates, see the Office of Registrar’s academic calendar.
- What is orientation?
Orientation is your chance to get acquainted with UNI’s campus services and resources, meet your advisor and register for classes before the semester begins.
- When will I register for classes?
You’ll register for your classes, through a one-on-one academic appointment with your academic advisor at orientation.
- When will I receive my UNI email account?
You’ll receive your official UNI email account during your orientation. Once this email account is active, the university will use this as your primary account.
- How can I connect with other admitted students in my year?
Opportunities include:
- UNI's private Instagram "Class of" account
- Admitted Student Visit Days
- Orientation
- Panther Welcome
- Joining a student organization
- Which online system or portal do I use for each step?
- Your general student portal, known as MyUNIverse, will be your main hub once you are a student at UNI. It can be accessed at portal.uni.edu.
- To access your housing contract, select a roommate and participate in room selection, you'll use your Housing Portal, which can be accessed at housing.uni.edu.
- Your hub for all things orientation, such as pre- and post-orientation tasks, is known as your Orientation Portal, which can be accessed at orientation.uni.edu. You will gain access to this portal leading up to your orientation session.
All systems require you to login using your CatID.
- What technology do I need?
/ You can learn about UNI's technology requirements and software recommendations here - Getting Started.
- How can I determine how my college credits will transfer to UNI?
The College Credit page serves as a resource, outlining how Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate Credit (IB) and dual credit/community college coursework transfers into UNI. For more detailed information, specific to Iowa community college courses, visit this page.
- What's the process for sending official high school and college transcripts?
This page outlines what you will need to do to request official transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions.
- Can I change my entrance term to UNI?
To change the term you wish to start at UNI, you will need to submit a new application. You can do so by logging in as a returning user to apply.uni.edu and completing a new application. Much of the data you previously entered will carry over within the application.
- How is Admitted Student Visit Days different from other visit days?
Admitted Student Visit Days offer more information about your next steps, housing, student life, campus resources and more than a standard visit to campus. The visit is exclusively for freshmen students who have been admitted to UNI, including those who have accepted their offer.
