ISU vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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 Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Wisconsin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Wisconsin Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 51%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • ISU 49%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (51,044 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 Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

ISU vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Wisconsin? 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 University of Wisconsin Madison than ISU ($14,235 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 23.5% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($10,808 vs. $14,124).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $816 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Wisconsin than at Iowa State University (about $13,222 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at University of Wisconsin Madison (77% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 64.4% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($17,741 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 210 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Wisconsin - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

ISU vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $1,618 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($22,250 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($230 vs. $246).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.