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Iowa Alabama Michigan State Purdue UL Lafayette Nebraska UIC Minnesota Florida State UNI Tulane Illinois| Iowa State University | Louisiana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | LSU | ||
| Location | Ames, IA | Baton Rouge, LA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 30,177 | 39,418 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #351 | #287 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iastate.edu | lsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | LSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,982 | $8,038 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,168 | $8,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,726 | $14,296 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,354 | $21,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,718 | $13,509 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 88% |
Admission |
ISU | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,995 | 42,558 | ||
| Admitted | 20,496 | 31,491 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.1% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 23.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.77 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1350 | 1150/1330 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | LSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,700 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,868 | $20,900 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $216 |
Diversity |
ISU | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 0% |
Students |
ISU | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 37% | ||
Campus |
ISU | LSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Louisiana State University is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (39,418 students vs. 30,177 students)
ISU vs. LSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or LSU?
- Iowa State University is 11.7% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($8,982.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 225.6% higher at ISU than Louisiana State University ($26,168.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than LSU ($17,354 vs. $21,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 47% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($9,726 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than Iowa State University (88% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 26% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($13,509 vs. $10,718)
ISU vs. LSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or LSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LSU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 21 points higher than at ISU (1142)
- Incoming LSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at ISU (3.7)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than LSU (74%)
ISU vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or LSU? 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 LSU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Louisiana State University (68% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $3,200 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $53,700)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $2,968 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($20,900 vs. $23,868)
- LSU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($216 vs. $246)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/