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Iowa OSU Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UW-Seattle UNI Portland State University Western Washington University Illinois| Iowa State University | University of Oregon | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | UO | ||
| Location | Ames, IA | Eugene, OR | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,177 | 23,786 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #351 | #340 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iastate.edu | uoregon.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | UO | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,982 | $13,014 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,168 | $40,647 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,726 | $15,840 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,354 | $23,917 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,718 | $8,547 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 85% |
Admission |
ISU | UO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,995 | 39,400 | ||
| Admitted | 20,496 | 33,532 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.1% | 85.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.6% | 15% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1110/1350 | 1130/1360 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | UO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | UO | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,700 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,868 | $21,101 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $246 | $218 |
Diversity |
ISU | UO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 60% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 7% | 14% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | UO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 51% | ||
Campus |
ISU | UO | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Iowa State University is larger than than UO based on total student enrollment (30,177 students vs. 23,786 students)
ISU vs. UO Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or UO?
- University of Oregon is 44.9% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($13,014.00 vs. $8,982.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55.3% higher at UO than Iowa State University ($40,647.00 vs. $26,168.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa State University than UO ($17,354 vs. $23,917)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 62.9% lower than costs at University of Oregon ($9,726 vs. $15,840)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oregon than Iowa State University (85% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 25.4% larger than aid received University of Oregon ($10,718 vs. $8,547)
ISU vs. UO Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or UO? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UO or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Iowa State University (1142) is 23 points higher than at UO (1119)
- Incoming ISU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at UO (25)
- Accepted freshman UO students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at ISU (3.7)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than UO (85.1%)
ISU vs. UO Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or UO? 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 UO and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Oregon (68% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than UO graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $49,000)
- University of Oregon students graduate with a $2,767 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($21,101 vs. $23,868)
- UO graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($218 vs. $246)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UO students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/