ISU vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Iowa State University and Lawrence 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.

Iowa State University
Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Lawrence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Lawrence Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

ISU vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence ($17,779 vs. $27,161).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 11.2% lower than at Lawrence University ($10,808 vs. $12,165).
  • Lawrence University is 428.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $46,195 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.3% higher at Lawrence than at Iowa State University (about $28,101 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawrence University than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 295.6% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($42,688 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lawrence University (1310) is 70 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Lawrence students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Lawrence - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Lawrence (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

ISU vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Lawrence? 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).

  • Lawrence University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $3,482 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($23,868 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($246 vs. $282).
  • More Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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.