Should I go to University of Arizona or Iowa State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if U of A or ISU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Iowa ASU Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota UNI Illinois San Diego State IU UT Dallas| University of Arizona | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
U of A | ISU | ||
| Location | Tucson, AZ | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 53,001 | 30,177 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #269 | #351 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arizona.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
U of A | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,871 | $8,982 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,340 | $26,168 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,400 | $9,726 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,144 | $17,354 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,511 | $10,718 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 77% |
Admission |
U of A | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 56,466 | 22,995 | ||
| Admitted | 48,369 | 20,496 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.7% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.48 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/30 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1160/1420 | 1110/1350 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
U of A | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
U of A | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,000 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $246 |
Diversity |
U of A | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
U of A | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 50% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 45% | ||
Campus |
U of A | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Which college is more expensive, U of A or ISU?
Which college is harder to get into, U of A or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or U of A .
Which is better, U of A or ISU? 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 ISU and U of A.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/