Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Iowa USD San Diego State UCSB UCI UCLA UC Davis UW-Seattle UC Berkeley UC Riverside Purdue Michigan| University of California San Diego | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCSD | ISU | ||
| Location | La Jolla, CA | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 42,006 | 29,969 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #89 | #352 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucsd.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCSD | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,564 | $8,678 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,636 | $25,162 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,710 | $9,358 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,111 | $15,310 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,782 | $11,043 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 55% | 80% |
Admission |
UCSD | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 131,197 | 21,919 | ||
| Admitted | 31,103 | 19,776 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 23.7% | 90.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 29% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 28/34 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1270/1480 | 1090/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
UCSD | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UCSD | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $67,900 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,500 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $191 | $246 |
Diversity |
UCSD | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 50% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 50% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 21% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 17% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
UCSD | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 81% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 45% | ||
Campus |
UCSD | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California San Diego is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (42,006 students vs. 29,969 students)
UCSD vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCSD or ISU?
- University of California San Diego is 33.3% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $8,678.00)
- Out of state tuition is 65.5% higher at UCSD than Iowa State University ($41,636.00 vs. $25,162.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than UCSD ($15,310 vs. $16,111)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 78.6% lower than costs at University of California San Diego ($9,358 vs. $16,710)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than University of California San Diego (80% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 88.2% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($20,782 vs. $11,043)
UCSD vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCSD or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or UCSD .
- The average SAT score at University of California San Diego (1344) is 202 points higher than at ISU (1142)
- Incoming UCSD students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at ISU (25)
- Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at ISU (3.7)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than UCSD (23.7%)
UCSD vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCSD or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and UCSD.
- The graduation rate at UCSD is higher than Iowa State University (85% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from University of California San Diego earn on average $14,200 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($67,900 vs. $53,700)
- University of California San Diego students graduate with a $5,368 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($18,500 vs. $23,868)
- UCSD graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($191 vs. $246)
- More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/