ISU vs. UIU

Deciding between Iowa State University and Upper Iowa University? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • UIU Fayette, IA
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • UIU Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • UIU 3,941
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • UIU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • UIU #938
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • UIU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • UIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • UIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • UIU $19,475
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • UIU $19,475
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • UIU $10,121
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • UIU $20,426
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • UIU $13,596
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • UIU 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • UIU 452
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • UIU 436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • UIU 96.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • UIU 33.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • UIU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • UIU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • UIU 3.34
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • UIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • UIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • UIU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • UIU 14/21
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • UIU 970/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • UIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • UIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • UIU 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • UIU
    • Business (40%)
    • Human Services (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • UIU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • UIU $42,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • UIU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • UIU $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • UIU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • UIU 43%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • UIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • UIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • UIU No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • UIU 66%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • UIU 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • UIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • UIU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • UIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • UIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • UIU 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • UIU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • UIU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • UIU 50%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • UIU 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than UIU based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 3,941 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Upper Iowa University is in Fayette, IA (Remote Rural setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Upper Iowa University 25:1.

ISU vs. UIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or UIU? 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 Iowa State University than UIU ($17,779 vs. $20,426).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 6.4% lower than at Iowa State University ($10,121 vs. $10,808).
  • Upper Iowa University is 80.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $8,688 more per year; $19,475.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.3% higher at ISU than at Upper Iowa University (about $9,406 more per year; $28,881.00 vs. $19,475.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Upper Iowa University than at Iowa State University (97% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 26% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($13,596 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. UIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or UIU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UIU and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Iowa State University (1240) is 170 points higher than at UIU (1070).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (24 vs. 17 at UIU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Upper Iowa University 970/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Iowa State University 21/28; Upper Iowa University 14/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; UIU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman ISU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UIU (3.34).
  • UIU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than ISU (88.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 33.9% at UIU.

ISU vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and UIU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Upper Iowa University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Iowa State University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than UIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $132 lower median loan debt than UIU graduates ($23,868 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIU graduates ($246 vs. $248).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 50%)

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.