ISU vs. Stephens College

Should I go to Iowa State University or Stephens College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or Stephens College 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. Stephens College comparison
Iowa State University Stephens College College 3 College 4
Iowa State University Stephens College
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Overview

ISU Stephens College
Location Ames, IA Columbia, MO
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 30,177 532
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #351
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iastate.edu stephens.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU Stephens College
Tuition (In State) $8,982 $27,000
Tuition (Out of State) $26,168 $27,000
Room & Board $9,726 $13,098
Avg Net Price $17,354 $23,261
Avg Grant Aid $10,718 $19,424
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 100%

Admission

ISU Stephens College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,995 414
Admitted 20,496 379
Acceptance Rate 89.1% 91.5%
Enrolled % 28.6% 19.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.27
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Difficult Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 16/23
SAT Range 1110/1350 1130/1270
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 Nov 1, 2025

Academics

ISU Stephens College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (36%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (6%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

ISU Stephens College
Graduation Rate 68% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,868 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $279

Diversity

ISU Stephens College
% Men 8% 5%
% Women 8% 28%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 69%
% Black 3% 15%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 6%
% International 7% 0%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

ISU Stephens College
% In-State 52% 54%
% Out-of-State 45% 41%

Campus

ISU Stephens College
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 Stephens College based on total student enrollment (30,177 students vs. 532 students)

ISU vs. Stephens College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or Stephens College?

  • Stephens College is 200.6% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($27,000.00 vs. $8,982.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.2% higher at Stephens College than Iowa State University ($27,000.00 vs. $26,168.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than Stephens College ($17,354 vs. $23,261)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 34.7% lower than costs at Stephens College ($9,726 vs. $13,098)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Stephens College than Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stephens College students is 81.2% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($19,424 vs. $10,718)

ISU vs. Stephens College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Iowa State University (1142) is 106 points higher than at Stephens College (1036)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Stephens College (22)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Stephens College (3.27)
  • Stephens College has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than ISU (89.1%)

ISU vs. Stephens College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or Stephens College? 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 Stephens College and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Stephens College (68% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $16,300 more per year than Stephens College graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $37,400)
  • Iowa State University students graduate with a $3,132 lower median federal student loan debt than Stephens College graduates. ($23,868 vs. $27,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Stephens College graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stephens College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)

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