IIT vs. ISU

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology 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.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, 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 IIT based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 8,834 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

IIT vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT 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 IIT ($17,779 vs. $24,796).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 37.7% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($10,808 vs. $17,356).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is 385.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $41,599 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.4% higher at IIT than at Iowa State University (about $23,505 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 312.8% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($44,547 vs. $10,791).

IIT vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT or ISU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ISU and IIT.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Illinois Institute of Technology (1310) is 70 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming IIT students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman IIT students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than IIT (54.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 28.8% at ISU.

IIT vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT and ISU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $25,600 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 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 IIT graduates ($23,868 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($246 vs. $279).
  • More IIT 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.