ISU vs. Saint John's

Deciding between Iowa State University and Saint Johns University? 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
Saint Johns University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Saint John's Collegeville, MN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • Saint John's Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • Saint John's 1,572
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • Saint John's Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • Saint John's #309
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • Saint John's Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Saint John's Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • Saint John's

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • Saint John's $55,816
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • Saint John's $55,816
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • Saint John's $12,430
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • Saint John's $28,504
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • Saint John's $40,035
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • Saint John's 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • Saint John's 1,685
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • Saint John's 1,527
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Saint John's 90.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Saint John's 21.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • Saint John's 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • Saint John's 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • Saint John's 3.51
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • Saint John's A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • Saint John's Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • Saint John's
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • Saint John's 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Saint John's 941/1228
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • Saint John's Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • Saint John's

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • Saint John's 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Saint John's
    • Business (28%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • Saint John's 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • Saint John's $64,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • Saint John's 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • Saint John's $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • Saint John's $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • Saint John's 96%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • Saint John's 4%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • Saint John's Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • Saint John's No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • Saint John's 80%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • Saint John's 3%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • Saint John's 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • Saint John's 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • Saint John's 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • Saint John's 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • Saint John's 1%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • Saint John's 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • Saint John's 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • Saint John's 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • Saint John's 17%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • Saint John's Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • Saint John's No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • Saint John's Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU Yes
  • Saint John's No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • Saint John's No

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Saint Johns University in Collegeville, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than Saint John's based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 1,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Saint Johns University is in Collegeville, MN (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Johns University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Saint Johns University 12:1.

ISU vs. Saint John's Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Saint John's? 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 Saint John's ($17,779 vs. $28,504).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 13% lower than at Saint Johns University ($10,808 vs. $12,430).
  • Saint Johns University is 417.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $45,029 more per year; $55,816.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93.3% higher at Saint John's than at Iowa State University (about $26,935 more per year; $55,816.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Johns University than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Johns University students is 271% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($40,035 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. Saint John's Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Saint John's? 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 Saint John's and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 160 points higher than at Saint John's (1080).
  • Incoming ISU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at Saint John's (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Saint Johns University 941/1228.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Saint Johns University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; Saint John's - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Saint John's (3.51).
  • Saint John's has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than ISU (88.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 21.9% at Saint John's.

ISU vs. Saint John's Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and Saint John's? 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).

  • Saint Johns University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Saint Johns University earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,400 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $3,132 lower median loan debt than Saint John's graduates ($23,868 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint John's graduates ($246 vs. $279).
  • More Saint John's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 74%)

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.