UNI partnership with Iowa community colleges experiences tremendous growth
Spring enrollment in the UNI@DMACC program has increased 35% this semester compared to enrollment in the spring of 2024. The partnership, which began in the fall 2020 semester, offers degree completion programs for students who have completed their associate’s degree through DMACC. Students can then complete an online or hybrid bachelor’s degree through the University of Northern Iowa.
The program and its tremendous success served as the model for the larger initiative UNI at Iowa Community Colleges (UNI@IACC), which allows students from any of Iowa’s community colleges to complete their bachelor’s degree through UNI. This highly successful program is also experiencing remarkable growth, with a nearly 90% increase since its inception.
UNI@IACC launched in 2022 with support from federal American Rescue Plan funds allocated by the Governor’s office. These funds established Future Ready Scholarships, covering the gap between community college tuition and UNI tuition for eligible students. With nearly half of all UNI@IACC students receiving this scholarship, the program is making four-year degrees more accessible than ever.
UNI@IACC offers degrees in high-demand fields such as elementary education, criminology and criminal justice, human services, and accounting.
With demand continuing to rise and American Rescue Plan funding estimated to run out by the end of the year, UNI is requesting $1.63 million in state appropriations for FY 2026. These funds will:
- Sustain Future Ready Scholarships, keeping higher education within reach for working Iowans.
- Strengthen Iowa’s workforce by providing highly skilled graduates in critical industries.
- Ensure continued program growth, meeting the needs of place-bound learners across the state.
By investing in UNI@IACC, we have the opportunity to build a stronger workforce, expand access to education and keep talented graduates in our communities. Let’s work together to secure Iowa’s future.