ISU vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 29,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); The University of Texas at Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

ISU vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than ISU ($14,916 vs. $17,779).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 25.1% lower than at The University of Texas at Dallas ($10,808 vs. $14,430).
• The University of Texas at Dallas is 35.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $3,857 more per year; $14,644.00 vs. $10,787.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39% higher at UT Dallas than at Iowa State University (about $11,263 more per year; $40,144.00 vs. $28,881.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at The University of Texas at Dallas (77% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students is 38.2% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($14,909 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or UT Dallas? 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 UT Dallas and ISU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Dallas (1290) is 50 points higher than at ISU (1240).
• Incoming UT Dallas students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ISU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UT Dallas students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at ISU (3.7).
• ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than UT Dallas (65.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

ISU vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and UT Dallas? 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).

• Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Dallas earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates have a $5,118 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($18,750 vs. $23,868).
• Among borrowers, UT Dallas graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($193 vs. $246).
• More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 64%)

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.