ASU vs. Iowa

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of Iowa? 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
University of Iowa

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • Iowa Iowa City, IA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • Iowa Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • Iowa 30,779
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • Iowa Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • Iowa #233
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • Iowa -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • Iowa Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • Iowa

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • Iowa $11,283
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • Iowa $33,371
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • Iowa $12,920
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • Iowa $21,765
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • Iowa $9,865
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • Iowa 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • Iowa 27,770
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • Iowa 23,222
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • Iowa 83.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • Iowa 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • Iowa 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • Iowa 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • Iowa 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • Iowa A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • Iowa Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • Iowa
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • Iowa 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • Iowa 1130/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • Iowa Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • Iowa May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • Iowa 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Iowa
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • Iowa 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • Iowa $59,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • Iowa 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • Iowa $21,616
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • Iowa $223

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • Iowa 44%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • Iowa 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • Iowa Medium
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • Iowa No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • Iowa 67%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • Iowa 4%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • Iowa 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • Iowa 7%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • Iowa 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • Iowa 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • Iowa 3%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • Iowa 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • Iowa 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • Iowa 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • Iowa 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Arizona State University is larger than Iowa based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 30,779 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of Iowa is in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of Iowa 16:1.

ASU vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or Iowa? 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 less at Arizona State University than Iowa ($17,779 vs. $21,765).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 22.7% lower than at Arizona State University ($12,920 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa (about $940 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $11,283.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Iowa than at Arizona State University (about $232 more per year; $33,371.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University of Iowa (89% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 23.4% larger than aid received by University of Iowa students ($12,172 vs. $9,865).

ASU vs. Iowa Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or Iowa? 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 Iowa and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Iowa (1230) is 20 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming ASU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at Iowa (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of Iowa 1130/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of Iowa 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; Iowa - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Iowa May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Iowa (83.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 22.4% at Iowa.

ASU vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and Iowa? 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).

  • University of Iowa's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona State University graduates have a $1,338 lower median loan debt than Iowa graduates ($20,278 vs. $21,616).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa graduates ($209 vs. $223).
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.