ISU vs. UW-Seattle

Deciding between Iowa State University and University of Washington Seattle Campus? 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 of Washington Seattle Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • UW-Seattle Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • UW-Seattle Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • UW-Seattle 56,997
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • UW-Seattle Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • UW-Seattle #90
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • UW-Seattle -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • UW-Seattle Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • UW-Seattle

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • UW-Seattle $12,973
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • UW-Seattle $43,209
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • UW-Seattle $18,405
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • UW-Seattle $11,784
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • UW-Seattle $16,156
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • UW-Seattle 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • UW-Seattle 69,166
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • UW-Seattle 27,076
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • UW-Seattle 39.1%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • UW-Seattle 26.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • UW-Seattle 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • UW-Seattle 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • UW-Seattle 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • UW-Seattle A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • UW-Seattle High
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • UW-Seattle 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • UW-Seattle 1200/1453
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • UW-Seattle Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • UW-Seattle 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • UW-Seattle
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • UW-Seattle 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • UW-Seattle $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • UW-Seattle 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • UW-Seattle $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • UW-Seattle $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • UW-Seattle 52%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • UW-Seattle 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • UW-Seattle No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • UW-Seattle 42%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • UW-Seattle 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • UW-Seattle 15%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • UW-Seattle 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • UW-Seattle 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • UW-Seattle 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with University of Washington Seattle Campus in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Washington Seattle Campus is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (56,997 students vs. 30,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); University of Washington Seattle Campus is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Washington Seattle Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; University of Washington Seattle Campus 20:1.

ISU vs. UW-Seattle Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UW-Seattle? 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 University of Washington Seattle Campus than ISU ($11,784 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 41.3% lower than at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($10,808 vs. $18,405).
  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is 20.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $2,186 more per year; $12,973.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.6% higher at UW-Seattle than at Iowa State University (about $14,328 more per year; $43,209.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at University of Washington Seattle Campus (77% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students is 49.7% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($16,156 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. UW-Seattle Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or UW-Seattle? 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 UW-Seattle and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Washington Seattle Campus (1330) is 90 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming UW-Seattle students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; University of Washington Seattle Campus 1200/1453.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; University of Washington Seattle Campus 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; UW-Seattle - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UW-Seattle students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than UW-Seattle (39.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 26.6% at UW-Seattle.

ISU vs. UW-Seattle Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and UW-Seattle? 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 of Washington Seattle Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Seattle Campus graduates have a $8,868 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($15,000 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, UW-Seattle graduates have an estimated $91 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($155 vs. $246).
  • More UW-Seattle graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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.