ISU vs. MSOE

Deciding between Iowa State University and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • MSOE B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • MSOE Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa State University is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

ISU vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or MSOE? 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 MSOE ($17,779 vs. $25,669).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 22.7% lower than at Milwaukee School of Engineering ($10,808 vs. $13,984).
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering is 368% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $39,693 more per year; $50,480.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.8% higher at MSOE than at Iowa State University (about $21,599 more per year; $50,480.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee School of Engineering than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students is 242.9% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($36,997 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (1280) is 40 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming MSOE 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; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); MSOE - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
  • Typical fall application deadline: MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than MSOE (58.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

ISU vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of about $15,200 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,900 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $3,132 lower median loan debt than MSOE graduates ($23,868 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSOE graduates ($246 vs. $279).
  • More MSOE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.