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Iowa Texas A&M Arkansas Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI Oklahoma State University-Main Campus UT Dallas Illinois| Iowa State University | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | OU | ||
| Location | Ames, IA | Norman, OK | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 30,177 | 29,145 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #351 | #223 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iastate.edu | ou.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | OU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,982 | $5,070 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,168 | $22,140 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,726 | $13,310 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,354 | $19,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,718 | $10,830 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 99% |
Admission |
ISU | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,995 | 22,337 | ||
| Admitted | 20,496 | 17,097 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.1% | 76.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 30.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1350 | 1140/1330 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | OU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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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 | 8% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 14% | ||
| 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% | 50% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 48% | ||
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 (30,177 students vs. 29,145 students)
ISU vs. OU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or OU?
- Iowa State University is 77.2% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($8,982.00 vs. $5,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.2% higher at ISU than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($26,168.00 vs. $22,140.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than OU ($17,354 vs. $19,900)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 36.8% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($9,726 vs. $13,310)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Iowa State University (99% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 1% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($10,830 vs. $10,718)
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 (89.1%) than OU (76.5%)
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/