UD vs. ISU

Deciding between University of Delaware and Iowa State University? 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.

University of Delaware
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 46%
  • ISU 51%
  • % Women
  • UD 54%
  • ISU 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa State University is larger than UD based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 24,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UD vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD or ISU? 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 UD ($17,779 vs. $19,139).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 29.8% lower than at University of Delaware ($10,808 vs. $15,386).
  • University of Delaware is 55.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $6,023 more per year; $16,810.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.3% higher at UD than at Iowa State University (about $12,519 more per year; $41,400.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Iowa State University (91% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Delaware students is 23.3% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($13,302 vs. $10,791).

UD vs. ISU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Delaware (1280) is 40 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming UD 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: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than UD (70.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 28.8% at ISU.

UD vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD and ISU? 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 Delaware's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Delaware earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,300 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $335 lower median loan debt than UD graduates ($23,868 vs. $24,203).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UD graduates ($246 vs. $250).
  • More UD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.