Iowa vs. OU

Should I go to University of Iowa or University of Oklahoma Norman Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa or OU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Iowa vs. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus comparison
University of Iowa University of Oklahoma Norman Campus College 3 College 4
University of Iowa University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
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Overview

 Iowa OU
Location Iowa City, IA Norman, OK
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 30,015 28,308
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #224 #189
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa OU
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $4,920
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $21,488
Room & Board $11,476 $15,780
Avg Net Price $19,587 $22,601
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $10,561
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 98%

Admission

 Iowa OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 21,548
Admitted 22,128 15,712
Acceptance Rate 86% 72.9%
Enrolled % 23.4% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 23/29
SAT Range 1130/1340 1130/1330
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 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 Iowa OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Iowa OU
Graduation Rate 71% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $59,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $223 $206

Diversity

 Iowa OU
% Men 44% 47%
% Women 56% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 62%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 9%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 12% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Iowa OU
% In-State 54% 53%
% Out-of-State 45% 45%

Campus

 Iowa OU
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 Iowa is larger than than OU based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 28,308 students)

Iowa vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or OU?

  • University of Iowa is 77.1% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($8,711.00 vs. $4,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.7% higher at Iowa than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($30,674.00 vs. $21,488.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than OU ($19,587 vs. $22,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 37.5% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($11,476 vs. $15,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than University of Iowa (98% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 6% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($10,561 vs. $9,959)

Iowa vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or OU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OU or Iowa .

  • The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 40 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
  • Incoming OU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Iowa (26)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at OU (3.66)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than OU (72.9%)

Iowa vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or OU? 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 OU and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (71% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $500 more per year than OU graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $59,300)
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students graduate with a $1,616 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($20,000 vs. $21,616)
  • OU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($206 vs. $223)
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/