ISU vs. KU

Deciding between Iowa State University and University of Kansas? 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
University of Kansas

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • KU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • KU 29,792
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • KU #317
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • KU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • KU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • KU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • KU $12,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • KU $30,432
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • KU $11,358
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • KU $19,205
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • KU $11,541
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • KU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • KU 22,363
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • KU 20,905
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • KU 93.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • KU 25.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • KU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • KU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • KU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • KU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • KU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • KU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • KU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • KU 1070/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • KU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • KU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • KU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • KU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • KU $54,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • KU 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • KU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • KU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 51%
  • KU 43%
  • % Women
  • ISU 49%
  • KU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • KU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • KU No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • KU 72%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • KU 4%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • KU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • KU 7%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • KU 5%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • KU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • KU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • KU 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • KU 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa State University is larger than KU based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 29,792 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ISU vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or KU? 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 KU ($17,779 vs. $19,205).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 4.8% lower than at University of Kansas ($10,808 vs. $11,358).
  • University of Kansas is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $1,315 more per year; $12,102.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at KU than at Iowa State University (about $1,551 more per year; $30,432.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kansas than at Iowa State University (91% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 7% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($11,541 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. KU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 50 points higher than at KU (1190).
  • Incoming ISU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at KU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; University of Kansas 1070/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; University of Kansas 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); KU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at KU (3.66).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than ISU (88.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 25.5% at KU.

ISU vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and KU? 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 University of Kansas's (61%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $900 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $3,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($20,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($211 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

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.