Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Iowa Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI Illinois ASU IU UT Dallas NDSU| Iowa State University | Saint Cloud State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
| Location | Ames, IA | Saint Cloud, MN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,177 | 10,514 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #351 | #622 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iastate.edu | stcloudstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,982 | $8,811 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,168 | $8,811 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,726 | $9,630 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,354 | $14,648 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,718 | $7,348 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 74% |
Admission |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,995 | 5,026 | ||
| Admitted | 20,496 | 4,772 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.1% | 94.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 18.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.4 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1350 | 970/1280 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 48% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,700 | $46,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,868 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $232 |
Diversity |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 11% | ||
Campus |
ISU | St. Cloud State University | ||
| 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 St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (30,177 students vs. 10,514 students)
ISU vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or St. Cloud State University?
- Iowa State University is 1.9% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($8,982.00 vs. $8,811.00)
- Out of state tuition is 197% higher at ISU than Saint Cloud State University ($26,168.00 vs. $8,811.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than ISU ($14,648 vs. $17,354)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 1% lower than costs at Iowa State University ($9,630 vs. $9,726)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than Saint Cloud State University (77% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 45.9% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($10,718 vs. $7,348)
ISU vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or St. Cloud State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St. Cloud State University or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Iowa State University (1142) is 112 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
- Incoming ISU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
- St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than ISU (89.1%)
ISU vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or St. Cloud State University? 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 St. Cloud State University and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Saint Cloud State University (68% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than St. Cloud State University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $46,700)
- Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $1,368 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $23,868)
- St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($232 vs. $246)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University 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/