ISU vs. Miami

Deciding between Iowa State University and Miami University Oxford? 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.

Iowa State University
Miami University Oxford

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Miami Oxford, OH
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Miami Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Miami 18,838
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Miami Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Miami #280
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Miami -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Miami Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Miami

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Miami $18,161
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Miami $41,221
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Miami $16,750
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Miami $28,229
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Miami $13,937
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Miami 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Miami 39,580
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Miami 29,843
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Miami 75.4%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Miami 14%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Miami 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Miami 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Miami 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Miami A
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Miami Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Miami
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Miami 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Miami 1220/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Miami Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Miami Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Miami 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Miami
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Miami 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Miami $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Miami 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Miami $24,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Miami $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Miami 46%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Miami 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Miami Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Miami No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Miami 77%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Miami 2%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Miami 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Miami 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Miami 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Miami 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Miami 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Miami 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Miami 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Miami 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Miami 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Miami University Oxford in Oxford, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than Miami based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 18,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Miami University Oxford is in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Miami University Oxford 16:1.

ISU vs. Miami Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Miami? 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 Miami ($17,779 vs. $28,229).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 35.5% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($10,808 vs. $16,750).
  • Miami University Oxford is 68.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $7,374 more per year; $18,161.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.7% higher at Miami than at Iowa State University (about $12,340 more per year; $41,221.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at Iowa State University (93% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Miami University Oxford students is 29.2% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($13,937 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Miami Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Miami? 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 Miami and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 70 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Miami students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Miami University Oxford 1220/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Miami University Oxford 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Miami - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Miami Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Miami (75.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 14% at Miami.

ISU vs. Miami Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Miami? 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).

  • Miami University Oxford's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Miami University Oxford earn a median of about $600 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $882 lower median loan debt than Miami graduates ($23,868 vs. $24,750).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Miami graduates ($246 vs. $255).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

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.