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Iowa Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI Illinois ASU IU UT Dallas Wisconsin| Iowa State University | North Dakota State University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | NDSU | ||
| Location | Ames, IA | Fargo, ND | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,177 | 11,952 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #351 | #591 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iastate.edu | ndsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | NDSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,982 | $9,309 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,168 | $13,963 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,726 | $9,565 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,354 | $16,461 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,718 | $5,841 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 78% |
Admission |
ISU | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,995 | 7,331 | ||
| Admitted | 20,496 | 7,024 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.1% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 31.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1350 | 968/1216 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | NDSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | NDSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,700 | $53,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,868 | $23,300 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $240 |
Diversity |
ISU | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
ISU | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 65% | ||
Campus |
ISU | NDSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Iowa State University is larger than than NDSU based on total student enrollment (30,177 students vs. 11,952 students)
ISU vs. NDSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or NDSU?
- North Dakota State University Main Campus is 3.6% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $8,982.00)
- Out of state tuition is 87.4% higher at ISU than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($26,168.00 vs. $13,963.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Dakota State University Main Campus than ISU ($16,461 vs. $17,354)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 1.7% lower than costs at Iowa State University ($9,565 vs. $9,726)
- More students receive financial grant aid at North Dakota State University Main Campus than Iowa State University (78% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 83.5% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($10,718 vs. $5,841)
ISU vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or NDSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NDSU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Iowa State University (1142) is 51 points higher than at NDSU (1091)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at NDSU (24)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at NDSU (3.53)
- NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than ISU (89.1%)
ISU vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or NDSU? 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 NDSU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than North Dakota State University Main Campus (68% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $100 more per year than NDSU graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $53,600)
- North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $568 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($23,300 vs. $23,868)
- NDSU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($240 vs. $246)
- More NDSU 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/