Loyola vs. ISU

Deciding between Loyola University Chicago and Iowa State 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.

Loyola University Chicago
Iowa State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • Setting
  • Loyola Large City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola 17,384
  • ISU 30,380
  • Type
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola #210
  • ISU #343
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • ISU $10,787
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • ISU $28,881
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola $17,010
  • ISU $10,808
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola $39,147
  • ISU $17,779
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola $28,816
  • ISU $10,791
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola 98%
  • ISU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola 39,315
  • ISU 23,095
  • Admitted
  • Loyola 32,081
  • ISU 20,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • ISU 88.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • ISU 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola 1270
  • ISU 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola 29
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola 3.71
  • ISU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola A-
  • ISU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola Very High
  • ISU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola 27/32
  • ISU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola
  • ISU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola 13:1
  • ISU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loyola 70%
  • ISU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola $59,800
  • ISU $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola 76%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola $25,000
  • ISU $23,868
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola $258
  • ISU $246

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola 31%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Women
  • Loyola 69%
  • ISU 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • Loyola No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • Loyola 58%
  • ISU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola 12%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Black
  • Loyola 4%
  • ISU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola 14%
  • ISU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola 5%
  • ISU 2%
  • % International
  • Loyola 5%
  • ISU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola 1%
  • ISU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola 56%
  • ISU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola 42%
  • ISU 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa State University is larger than Loyola based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 17,384 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Iowa State University is in Ames, IA (Small City setting).
  • Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Loyola University Chicago 13:1; Iowa State University 18:1.

Loyola vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola or ISU? 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 Loyola ($17,779 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 36.5% lower than at Loyola University Chicago ($10,808 vs. $17,010).
  • Loyola University Chicago is 397.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $42,923 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 86% higher at Loyola than at Iowa State University (about $24,829 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Loyola University Chicago than at Iowa State University (98% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Loyola University Chicago students is 167% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($28,816 vs. $10,791).

Loyola vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loyola or ISU? 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 ISU and Loyola.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Loyola University Chicago (1270) is 30 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming Loyola students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360; Iowa State University 1120/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Loyola University Chicago 27/32; Iowa State University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman Loyola students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than Loyola (81.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Loyola vs. 28.8% at ISU.

Loyola vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola and ISU? 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.

  • Loyola University Chicago's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $1,132 lower median loan debt than Loyola graduates ($23,868 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Loyola graduates ($246 vs. $258).
  • More Loyola 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.