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ISU Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB IU NC State Michigan State Purdue| University of Iowa | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,015 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #224 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,711 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,674 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,476 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,587 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,959 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 44% |
Admission |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,729 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 22,128 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.4% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1340 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $277 |
Diversity |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 12% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Iowa based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 30,015 students)
Iowa vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 110.9% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $8,711.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at Penn State than University of Iowa ($35,946.00 vs. $30,674.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Penn State ($19,587 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 11% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($11,476 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than Penn State Main Campus (82% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 1.1% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($10,066 vs. $9,959)
Iowa vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 38 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Iowa (26)
- Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Iowa vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of Iowa (87% vs. 71%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $4,500 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $55,300)
- University of Iowa students graduate with a $5,202 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,616 vs. $26,818)
- Iowa graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($223 vs. $277)
- More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/