ISU vs. Iowa vs. University of North Dakota

Compare Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and University of North Dakota side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Iowa State University
University of Iowa
University of North Dakota

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Iowa Iowa City, IA
  • University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Iowa Small City
  • University of North Dakota Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Iowa 30,779
  • University of North Dakota 15,019
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Iowa Public 4 Year
  • University of North Dakota Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Iowa #233
  • University of North Dakota #383
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Iowa -
  • University of North Dakota -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Iowa Non-profit
  • University of North Dakota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Iowa
  • University of North Dakota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Iowa $11,283
  • University of North Dakota $10,951
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Iowa $33,371
  • University of North Dakota $15,570
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Iowa $12,920
  • University of North Dakota $11,390
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Iowa $21,765
  • University of North Dakota $18,076
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Iowa $9,865
  • University of North Dakota $6,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Iowa 76%
  • University of North Dakota 86%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Iowa 27,770
  • University of North Dakota 8,261
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Iowa 23,222
  • University of North Dakota 6,353
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Iowa 83.6%
  • University of North Dakota 76.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Iowa 22.4%
  • University of North Dakota 34.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Iowa 1230
  • University of North Dakota 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Iowa 24
  • University of North Dakota 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Iowa 3.81
  • University of North Dakota 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Iowa A-
  • University of North Dakota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Iowa Challenging
  • University of North Dakota Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Iowa
  • University of North Dakota
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Iowa 21/28
  • University of North Dakota 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Iowa 1130/1330
  • University of North Dakota 1110/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Iowa Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • University of North Dakota Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Iowa May 1, 2027
  • University of North Dakota Aug 17, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Iowa 16:1
  • University of North Dakota 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Iowa
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • University of North Dakota
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (14%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Iowa 71%
  • University of North Dakota 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Iowa $59,800
  • University of North Dakota $54,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Iowa 70%
  • University of North Dakota 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Iowa $21,616
  • University of North Dakota $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Iowa $223
  • University of North Dakota $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 51%
  • Iowa 45%
  • University of North Dakota 37%
  • % Women
  • ISU 49%
  • Iowa 55%
  • University of North Dakota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Iowa Medium
  • University of North Dakota Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Iowa No
  • University of North Dakota No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Iowa 67%
  • University of North Dakota 83%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Iowa 4%
  • University of North Dakota 2%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Iowa 3%
  • University of North Dakota 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Iowa 7%
  • University of North Dakota 3%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Iowa 0%
  • University of North Dakota 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Iowa 0%
  • University of North Dakota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Iowa 3%
  • University of North Dakota 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Iowa 12%
  • University of North Dakota 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Iowa 4%
  • University of North Dakota 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Iowa 54%
  • University of North Dakota 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Iowa 45%
  • University of North Dakota 59%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • Iowa Yes
  • University of North Dakota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • Iowa No
  • University of North Dakota No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • Iowa Yes
  • University of North Dakota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU Yes
  • Iowa No
  • University of North Dakota No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • Iowa Yes
  • University of North Dakota Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University of Iowa is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (30,779 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ISU vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Iowa? 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 Iowa ($17,779 vs. $21,765).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 16.3% lower than at University of Iowa ($10,808 vs. $12,920).
  • University of Iowa is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $496 more per year; $11,283.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.5% higher at Iowa than at Iowa State University (about $4,490 more per year; $33,371.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at University of Iowa (77% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 9.4% larger than aid received by University of Iowa students ($10,791 vs. $9,865).

ISU vs. Iowa Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 10 points higher than at Iowa (1230).
  • Incoming ISU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at Iowa (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; University of Iowa 1130/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; University of Iowa 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Iowa - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Iowa May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Iowa (83.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 22.4% at Iowa.

ISU vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Iowa? 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).

  • University of Iowa's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Iowa graduates have a $2,252 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($21,616 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Iowa graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($223 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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.