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Iowa Miami Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota IU Kentucky UNI Ohio State Xavier| Iowa State University | University of Cincinnati Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | UC | ||
| Location | Ames, IA | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 29,969 | 41,155 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #352 | #413 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iastate.edu | uc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | UC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,678 | $11,498 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,162 | $26,862 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,358 | $12,852 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,310 | $20,149 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,043 | $8,733 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 80% | 64% |
Admission |
ISU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 21,919 | 29,025 | ||
| Admitted | 19,776 | 25,024 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.2% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 29% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1350 | 1160/1360 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ISU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | UC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,700 | $45,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,868 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $237 |
Diversity |
ISU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 55% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 45% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
ISU | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 17% | ||
Campus |
ISU | UC | ||
| 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
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (41,155 students vs. 29,969 students)
ISU vs. UC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or UC?
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 32.5% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($11,498.00 vs. $8,678.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.8% higher at UC than Iowa State University ($26,862.00 vs. $25,162.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than UC ($15,310 vs. $20,149)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 37.3% lower than costs at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($9,358 vs. $12,852)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa State University than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (80% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 26.5% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($11,043 vs. $8,733)
ISU vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or UC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC or ISU .
- The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 23 points higher than at ISU (1142)
- Incoming UC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UC (3.69)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than UC (86.2%)
ISU vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or UC? 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 UC and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (68% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $8,100 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $45,600)
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus students graduate with a $868 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $23,868)
- UC graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($237 vs. $246)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/