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 of admissions!
Accepting your offer is a big step that opens the door to your next steps - specifically finalizing your housing and signing up for orientation! 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 your UNI Scholarship Application.
Once admitted, you can apply for hundreds of departmental scholarships across campus using the UNI Scholarship Application. The deadline is January 15.
Note: The application and deadline do not pertain to admissions based scholarship awarded at the time of admissions.- File your FAFSA.
To be considered for financial aid, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted. FAFSA opens on October 1, with a priority deadline of January 15. 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.
- Complete your housing contract.
If you plan to live on campus, you can start your housing contract. To formally submit your housing contract you must accept your offer of admissions. The sooner you complete your contract, the earlier you'll be able to select your room.
- Sign up 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 in February. Before signing up, you will need to accept your offer of admission.
- Choose your dorm room.
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. You will be email/mailed your specific date to sign up!
/ Transfer Student selection is in March
/ New Freshmen selection is in April- Request all 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.
- Attend orientation and wrap up your “Before Orientation Tasks.”
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 attend 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!
- Can I defer my acceptance fee? What's the acceptance fee refund policy?
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.
Full details on the fee and our refund policy.- How can I connect with other admitted students in my year?
- UNI's private Instagram account: @northern_iowa_admissions
- Admitted Student Visit Days
- Orientation
- Panther Welcome
- Joining a student organization
- When will I receive scholarship information and/or my financial aid offer?
For fall entry students, scholarship letters will be sent around October 1. After October 1, students will be typically notified of their scholarship offer within two weeks of admittance to the university.
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. The electronic version can be viewed at myuniverse.uni.edu (requires a CATID).
As a reminder, UNI's FAFSA code is 001890.
- How will my college classes or AP/IB/CLEP credits transfer into UNI?
Check out our College Credit web page to learn more how Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate Credit (IB) and dual credit/community college coursework transfers into UNI.
- What's the process for sending official high school and college transcripts?
Please visit request official transcripts for more information.
- What is orientation? When will I register for classes?
Orientation is your chance to get acquainted with UNI’s campus services and resources, meet other incoming students, and register for your classes during a one-on-one appointment with your academic advisor.
Students starting in the fall semester will attend orientation/register for classes in June and July*. Students starting in the spring semester will attend orientation in December and January. Specific dates are available on the orientation registration page (students must login with their CATID).
*Transfer students also have an April option.- When do classes start for the Fall 2025 term? What is the academic calendar?
The first day of classes for the fall semester is Monday, August 25, 2025. Spring semester classes begin Tuesday, January 20, 2026. All new students will be required to attend orientation prior to the start of classes.
For other important dates and deadlines, see the Office of Registrar’s academic calendar.- 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.
- What type of computer do I need and where do I get my books?
/ You can learn about UNI's technology requirements and software recommendations here - Getting Started.
/ You can purchase your books at the UNI Bookstore. Just enter your course number on the bookstore website.- Which links/systems do I use for each step? What if I forgot my CATID?
- Your general student system, known as MyUNIverse, will be your main hub once you are a student at UNI. It can be accessed at myuniverse.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. If you have forgotten your password and have difficulty resetting your password, please contact us at admissions@uni.edu.
- How and when do I pay my bill? Do you offer a payment plan?
For dates and ways to pay your bill (including payment plan option) see our Student Accounts page.
- When do I get my ID and parking pass?
You should upload your photo for your ID to your orientation portal. You will pick up your ID at move-in or at the Redecker Center if commuting. You can also order your parking pass through the orientation portal or public safety website. Note you must be registered for classes prior to ordering a pass.
- Who do I talk to if I require accommodations for a disability?
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) works with individuals with disabilities to determine the appropriate accommodations for both the Academic and Campus Experience as well as for University Housing & Dining. Learn more on the SAS website.
- 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.
- I'm an incoming student and have more questions about UNI, who can I talk to?
Check out UNI’s Panther Welcome Guide for all of your questions! Or email us at admissions@uni.edu.
