IU vs. ISU

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Iowa State University in Ames, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 30,380 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

IU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than ISU ($17,270 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 22.7% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($10,808 vs. $13,984).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $1,357 more per year; $12,144.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45% higher at IU than at Iowa State University (about $13,010 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at Indiana University Bloomington (77% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 2.9% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($10,791 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 50 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming IU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman IU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than IU (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 28.8% at ISU.

IU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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.

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $1,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($22,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($232 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

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.