ASU vs. ISU

Deciding between Arizona State University and Iowa State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
Iowa State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU B+
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • ISU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • ISU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with Iowa State University in Ames, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

ASU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or ISU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is the same at Arizona State University and ISU ($17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 35.3% lower than at Arizona State University ($10,808 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $1,436 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at ASU than at Iowa State University (about $4,258 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at Iowa State University (89% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 12.8% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($12,172 vs. $10,791).

ASU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or ISU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ISU and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 30 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming ASU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at ISU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than ISU (88.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 28.8% at ISU.

ASU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and ISU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona State University graduates have a $3,590 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($20,278 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($209 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.