ISU vs. Luther- Norse

Should I go to Iowa State University or Luther College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or Luther- Norse is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Iowa State University vs. Luther College comparison
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Iowa State University Luther College
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Overview

ISU Luther- Norse
Location Ames, IA Decorah, IA
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 29,969 1,610
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #352 #336
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iastate.edu luther.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Luther- Norse
Tuition (In State) $8,678 $47,510
Tuition (Out of State) $25,162 $47,510
Room & Board $9,358 $10,670
Avg Net Price $15,310 $25,734
Avg Grant Aid $11,043 $35,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 100%

Admission

ISU Luther- Norse
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,919 2,188
Admitted 19,776 1,648
Acceptance Rate 90.2% 75.3%
Enrolled % 29% 24.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 22/29
SAT Range 1090/1350 1075/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

ISU Luther- Norse
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)

Outcomes

ISU Luther- Norse
Graduation Rate 68% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $50,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,868 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $279

Diversity

ISU Luther- Norse
% Men 55% 45%
% Women 45% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 84%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 7% 6%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

ISU Luther- Norse
% In-State 52% 26%
% Out-of-State 45% 60%

Campus

ISU Luther- Norse
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Iowa State University is larger than than Luther- Norse based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 1,610 students)

ISU vs. Luther- Norse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Luther- Norse?

  • Luther College is 447.5% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($47,510.00 vs. $8,678.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 88.8% higher at Luther- Norse than Iowa State University ($47,510.00 vs. $25,162.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Luther- Norse ($15,310 vs. $25,734)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 14% lower than costs at Luther College ($9,358 vs. $10,670)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Luther College than Iowa State University (100% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 220.9% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($35,441 vs. $11,043)

ISU vs. Luther- Norse Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Luther- Norse? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Luther- Norse or ISU .

  • The average SAT score at Luther College (1179) is 37 points higher than at ISU (1142)
  • Incoming Luther- Norse students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Luther- Norse (3.65)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than Luther- Norse (75.3%)

ISU vs. Luther- Norse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Luther- Norse? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Luther- Norse and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at Luther- Norse is higher than Iowa State University (69% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Luther- Norse graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $50,000)
  • Iowa State University students graduate with a $3,132 lower median federal student loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates. ($23,868 vs. $27,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Luther- Norse graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More Luther- Norse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/