ISU vs. Rockhurst

Should I go to Iowa State University or Rockhurst University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or Rockhurst is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Iowa State University vs. Rockhurst University comparison
Iowa State University Rockhurst University College 3 College 4
Iowa State University Rockhurst University
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Overview

 ISU Rockhurst
Location Ames, IA Kansas City, MO
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 29,969 3,405
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #352 #285
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iastate.edu rockhurst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ISU Rockhurst
Tuition (In State) $8,678 $40,700
Tuition (Out of State) $25,162 $40,700
Room & Board $9,358 $10,280
Avg Net Price $15,310 $22,994
Avg Grant Aid $11,043 $32,842
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 100%

Admission

 ISU Rockhurst
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,919 3,154
Admitted 19,776 2,096
Acceptance Rate 90.2% 66.5%
Enrolled % 29% 13.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.62
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 19/26
SAT Range 1090/1350 1083/1288
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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

 ISU Rockhurst
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Health Professions (31%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 ISU Rockhurst
Graduation Rate 68% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,868 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $246 $211

Diversity

 ISU Rockhurst
% Men 55% 35%
% Women 45% 65%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 72%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

 ISU Rockhurst
% In-State 52% 58%
% Out-of-State 45% 39%

Campus

 ISU Rockhurst
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Iowa State University is larger than than Rockhurst based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 3,405 students)

ISU vs. Rockhurst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Rockhurst?

  • Rockhurst University is 369% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($40,700.00 vs. $8,678.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 61.8% higher at Rockhurst than Iowa State University ($40,700.00 vs. $25,162.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Rockhurst ($15,310 vs. $22,994)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 9.9% lower than costs at Rockhurst University ($9,358 vs. $10,280)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rockhurst University than Iowa State University (100% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rockhurst University students is 197.4% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($32,842 vs. $11,043)

ISU vs. Rockhurst Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Rockhurst? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Rockhurst or ISU .

  • The average SAT score at Rockhurst University (1162) is 20 points higher than at ISU (1142)
  • Incoming Rockhurst students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Rockhurst (3.62)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than Rockhurst (66.5%)

ISU vs. Rockhurst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Rockhurst? 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 Rockhurst and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at Rockhurst is higher than Iowa State University (74% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $200 more per year than Rockhurst graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $53,500)
  • Rockhurst University students graduate with a $3,368 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,868)
  • Rockhurst graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($211 vs. $246)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rockhurst students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/