Cornell College vs. Iowa

Should I go to Cornell College or University of Iowa? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cornell College or Iowa 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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Cornell College vs. University of Iowa comparison
Cornell College University of Iowa College 3 College 4
Cornell College University of Iowa
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Overview

Cornell College Iowa
Location Mount Vernon, IA Iowa City, IA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,073 30,015
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #424 #224
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cornellcollege.edu uiowa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cornell College Iowa
Tuition (In State) $48,514 $8,711
Tuition (Out of State) $48,514 $30,674
Room & Board $10,872 $11,476
Avg Net Price $25,686 $19,587
Avg Grant Aid $38,069 $9,959
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 82%

Admission

Cornell College Iowa
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,057 25,729
Admitted 2,425 22,128
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 86%
Enrolled % 13.6% 23.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.81
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30 22/28
SAT Range 1170/1380 1130/1340
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, 2025

Academics

Cornell College Iowa
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Cornell College Iowa
Graduation Rate 70% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,400 $59,800
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,616
Median Loan Payment $279 $223

Diversity

Cornell College Iowa
% Men 52% 44%
% Women 48% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 67%
% Black 5% 3%
% Hispanic 13% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 12%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

Cornell College Iowa
% In-State 30% 54%
% Out-of-State 67% 45%

Campus

Cornell College Iowa
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than Cornell College based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 1,073 students)

Cornell College vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell College or Iowa?

  • Cornell College is 456.9% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($48,514.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.2% higher at Cornell College than University of Iowa ($48,514.00 vs. $30,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Cornell College ($19,587 vs. $25,686)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 5.6% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($10,872 vs. $11,476)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cornell College than University of Iowa (100% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 282.3% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($38,069 vs. $9,959)

Cornell College vs. Iowa Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cornell College (1177) is 13 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
  • Incoming Cornell College students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at Iowa (26)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Cornell College (3.53)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Cornell College (79.3%)

Cornell College vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cornell College or Iowa? 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 Iowa and Cornell College.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Cornell College (71% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $14,400 more per year than Cornell College graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $45,400)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $5,384 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornell College graduates. ($21,616 vs. $27,000)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than Cornell College graduates. ($223 vs. $279)
  • More Cornell College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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