Augustana vs. ISU

Deciding between Augustana College 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.

Augustana College
Iowa State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Augustana Rock Island, IL
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • Augustana Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Augustana 2,570
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • Augustana Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Augustana #311
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • Augustana Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Augustana
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • Augustana $12,502
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • Augustana $24,714
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Augustana $39,242
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Augustana 100%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Augustana 7,857
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • Augustana 4,925
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Augustana 62.7%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Augustana 13.5%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Augustana 1150
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Augustana 25
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Augustana 3.3
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Augustana B+
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Augustana Challenging
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Augustana Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • Augustana 21/29
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Augustana 1030/1270
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Augustana Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Augustana Aug 1, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Augustana 12:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Augustana
    • Business (19%)
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Augustana 76%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Augustana $55,100
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Augustana 81%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Augustana $27,000
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Augustana $279
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Augustana 47%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • Augustana 53%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Augustana Low
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • Augustana No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • Augustana 76%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Augustana 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • Augustana 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Augustana 10%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Augustana 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Augustana 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Augustana 4%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • Augustana 4%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Augustana 1%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Augustana 53%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Augustana 21%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Augustana College in Rock Island, IL 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 Augustana based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 2,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Augustana College is located in Rock Island, IL (Small City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Augustana College 12:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

Augustana vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Augustana 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 Augustana ($17,779 vs. $24,714).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 13.5% lower than at Augustana College ($10,808 vs. $12,502).
  • Augustana College is 378.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $40,811 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.7% higher at Augustana than at Iowa State University (about $22,717 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Augustana College than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Augustana College students is 263.7% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($39,242 vs. $10,791).

Augustana vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Augustana 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 Augustana.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 90 points higher than at Augustana (1150).
  • Incoming Augustana students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 1030/1270; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 21/29; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Augustana - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Augustana Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Augustana (3.3).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Augustana (62.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Augustana vs. 28.8% at ISU.

Augustana vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Augustana 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).

  • Augustana College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Augustana College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,100 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $3,132 lower median loan debt than Augustana graduates ($23,868 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Augustana graduates ($246 vs. $279).
  • More Augustana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.