ISU vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Iowa State University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

ISU vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($17,779 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 31.2% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($10,808 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 66.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $7,142 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.6% higher at Rutgers than at Iowa State University (about $8,560 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (77% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 55.1% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($16,742 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 170 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Rutgers - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

ISU vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Rutgers? 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $1,653 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($22,215 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($229 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 68%)

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.