Iowa vs. K-State

Deciding between University of Iowa and Kansas 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 Iowa
Kansas State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Iowa Iowa City, IA
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • Setting
  • Iowa Small City
  • K-State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Iowa 30,779
  • K-State 20,295
  • Type
  • Iowa Public 4 Year
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Iowa #233
  • K-State #510
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Iowa -
  • K-State -
  • Status
  • Iowa Non-profit
  • K-State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Iowa
  • K-State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Iowa $11,283
  • K-State $11,221
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Iowa $33,371
  • K-State $28,568
  • Room & Board
  • Iowa $12,920
  • K-State $12,830
  • Average Net Price
  • Iowa $21,765
  • K-State $20,527
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Iowa $9,865
  • K-State $9,270
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Iowa 76%
  • K-State 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Iowa 27,770
  • K-State 15,509
  • Admitted
  • Iowa 23,222
  • K-State 12,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Iowa 83.6%
  • K-State 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Iowa 22.4%
  • K-State 27.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Iowa 1230
  • K-State 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Iowa 24
  • K-State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Iowa 3.81
  • K-State 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Iowa A-
  • K-State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Iowa Challenging
  • K-State Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Iowa
  • K-State
  • ACT Range
  • Iowa 21/28
  • K-State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • Iowa 1130/1330
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Iowa Test optional
  • K-State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Iowa May 1, 2027
  • K-State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Iowa 16:1
  • K-State 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Iowa
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Iowa 71%
  • K-State 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Iowa $59,800
  • K-State $49,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Iowa 70%
  • K-State 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Iowa $21,616
  • K-State $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Iowa $223
  • K-State $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Iowa 44%
  • K-State 46%
  • % Women
  • Iowa 56%
  • K-State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Iowa Medium
  • K-State Low
  • HBCU
  • Iowa No
  • K-State No
  • % White
  • Iowa 67%
  • K-State 78%
  • % Asian
  • Iowa 4%
  • K-State 1%
  • % Black
  • Iowa 3%
  • K-State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Iowa 7%
  • K-State 7%
  • % Native American
  • Iowa 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Iowa 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Iowa 3%
  • K-State 3%
  • % International
  • Iowa 12%
  • K-State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Iowa 4%
  • K-State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Iowa 54%
  • K-State 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Iowa 45%
  • K-State 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Iowa Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Iowa No
  • K-State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Iowa Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Iowa No
  • K-State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Iowa Yes
  • K-State Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University of Iowa is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (30,779 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting); Kansas State University is in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Iowa 16:1; Kansas State University 19:1.

Iowa vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or K-State? 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 Kansas State University than Iowa ($20,527 vs. $21,765).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 0.7% lower than at University of Iowa ($12,830 vs. $12,920).
  • University of Iowa is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than K-State (about $62 more per year; $11,283.00 vs. $11,221.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at Iowa than at Kansas State University (about $4,803 more per year; $33,371.00 vs. $28,568.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at University of Iowa (92% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($9,865 vs. $9,270).

Iowa vs. K-State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or K-State? 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 K-State and Iowa.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Iowa (1230) is 70 points higher than at K-State (1160).
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at K-State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 1130/1330; Kansas State University 1060/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 21/28; Kansas State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iowa - Test optional; K-State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Iowa May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at K-State (3.77).
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at Iowa vs. 27.5% at K-State.

Iowa vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa and K-State? 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 Kansas State University's (56%).
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than K-State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $49,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Iowa graduates have a $884 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($21,616 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Iowa graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($223 vs. $232).
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former K-State students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.