ISU vs. UB

Deciding between Iowa State University and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • UB Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • UB No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • UB Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU Yes
  • UB No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • UB Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

ISU vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UB? 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 UB ($17,779 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 38% lower than at University at Buffalo ($10,808 vs. $17,426).
  • University at Buffalo is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $149 more per year; $10,936.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at UB than at Iowa State University (about $2,655 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at University at Buffalo (77% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 1.2% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($10,791 vs. $10,663).

ISU vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 60 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming UB students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 14.1% at UB.

ISU vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and UB? 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).

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $4,368 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($201 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)

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.