ISU vs. OU

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

ISU OU
Location Ames, IA Norman, OK
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 29,969 28,308
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #352 #189
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iastate.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU OU
Tuition (In State) $8,678 $4,920
Tuition (Out of State) $25,162 $21,488
Room & Board $9,358 $15,780
Avg Net Price $15,310 $22,601
Avg Grant Aid $11,043 $10,561
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 98%

Admission

ISU OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,919 21,548
Admitted 19,776 15,712
Acceptance Rate 90.2% 72.9%
Enrolled % 29% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 23/29
SAT Range 1090/1350 1130/1330
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

ISU OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

ISU OU
Graduation Rate 68% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $59,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,868 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $246 $206

Diversity

ISU OU
% Men 55% 47%
% Women 45% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 62%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 9%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

ISU OU
% In-State 52% 53%
% Out-of-State 45% 45%

Campus

ISU OU
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

  • Iowa State University is larger than than OU based on total student enrollment (29,969 students vs. 28,308 students)

ISU vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or OU?

  • Iowa State University is 76.4% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($8,678.00 vs. $4,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.1% higher at ISU than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($25,162.00 vs. $21,488.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than OU ($15,310 vs. $22,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 68.6% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($9,358 vs. $15,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Iowa State University (98% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 4.6% larger than aid received University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($11,043 vs. $10,561)

ISU vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 62 points higher than at ISU (1142)
  • Incoming OU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at ISU (25)
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at OU (3.66)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than OU (72.9%)

ISU vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or OU? 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 OU and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (68% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn on average $5,600 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($59,300 vs. $53,700)
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students graduate with a $3,868 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $23,868)
  • OU graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($206 vs. $246)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 68%)

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