Dort vs. ISU

Deciding between Dordt University 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.

Dordt University
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dort Sioux Center, IA
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • Dort Remote Town
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dort 1,952
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • Dort Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dort #407
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dort Christian Reformed Church
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • Dort Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dort
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dort $37,050
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dort $37,050
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • Dort $11,770
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • Dort $28,486
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dort $23,277
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dort 100%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dort 1,773
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • Dort 1,214
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dort 68.5%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Dort 38%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dort 1200
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dort 25
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dort 3.65
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dort A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dort Difficult
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dort Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • Dort 21/29
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Dort 1070/1330
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dort Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dort
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dort 14:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dort
    • Education (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dort 60%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dort $43,300
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dort 90%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dort $23,000
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dort $237
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dort 47%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • Dort 53%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dort Low
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • Dort No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • Dort 73%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Dort 1%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • Dort 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dort 0%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Dort 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dort 7%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dort 0%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • Dort 9%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dort 8%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dort 33%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dort 60%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA 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 Dort based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 1,952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dordt University is located in Sioux Center, IA (Remote Town setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Dordt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dordt University 14:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

Dort vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dort 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 Dort ($17,779 vs. $28,486).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 8.2% lower than at Dordt University ($10,808 vs. $11,770).
  • Dordt University is 243.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $26,263 more per year; $37,050.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.3% higher at Dort than at Iowa State University (about $8,169 more per year; $37,050.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dordt University than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dordt University students is 115.7% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($23,277 vs. $10,791).

Dort vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dort 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 Dort.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 40 points higher than at Dort (1200).
  • Incoming Dort 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: Dordt University 1070/1330; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dordt University 21/29; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dort - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Dort (3.65).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Dort (68.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38% at Dort vs. 28.8% at ISU.

Dort vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dort 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).

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Dordt University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Dort graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $43,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dordt University graduates have a $868 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($23,000 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, Dort graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($237 vs. $246).
  • More Dort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.