DePaul vs. ISU

Deciding between DePaul 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.

DePaul University
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL with Iowa State University in Ames, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than DePaul based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 21,210 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

DePaul vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul 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 less at Iowa State University than DePaul ($17,779 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 43.4% lower than at DePaul University ($10,808 vs. $19,095).
  • DePaul University is 326.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $35,212 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 59.3% higher at DePaul than at Iowa State University (about $17,118 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePaul University students is 171.4% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($29,285 vs. $10,791).

DePaul vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul or ISU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ISU and DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at DePaul University (1240) is the same as at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming DePaul students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: DePaul University 1140/1330; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: DePaul University 25/31; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman DePaul students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than DePaul (75.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 28.8% at ISU.

DePaul vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul and ISU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from DePaul University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePaul University graduates have a $536 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($23,332 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, DePaul graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($241 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)

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.