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Iowa Florida State USF Main Campus FIU FAU Florida Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC FGCU Minnesota| University of Central Florida | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCF | ISU | ||
| Location | Orlando, FL | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 69,233 | 30,177 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #387 | #351 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucf.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCF | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,478 | $8,982 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,810 | $26,168 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,070 | $9,726 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,110 | $17,354 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,585 | $10,718 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 77% |
Admission |
UCF | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 60,627 | 22,995 | ||
| Admitted | 23,961 | 20,496 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 39.5% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 34.2% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/29 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1350 | 1110/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
UCF | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 29:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UCF | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,900 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $18,270 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $188 | $246 |
Diversity |
UCF | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 24% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
UCF | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 92% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 45% | ||
Campus |
UCF | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Central Florida is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (69,233 students vs. 30,177 students)
UCF vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCF or ISU?
- Iowa State University is 100.6% more expensive to attend than UCF for in-state tuition ($8,982.00 vs. $4,478.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.1% higher at ISU than University of Central Florida ($26,168.00 vs. $19,810.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Florida than ISU ($13,110 vs. $17,354)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 24.1% lower than costs at University of Central Florida ($9,726 vs. $12,070)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Florida than Iowa State University (85% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 11.8% larger than aid received University of Central Florida ($10,718 vs. $9,585)
UCF vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCF or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or UCF .
- The average SAT score at University of Central Florida (1179) is 37 points higher than at ISU (1142)
- Incoming UCF students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UCF (3.64)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than UCF (39.5%)
UCF vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCF 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 UCF.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of Central Florida (68% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than UCF graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $48,900)
- University of Central Florida students graduate with a $5,598 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($18,270 vs. $23,868)
- UCF graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($188 vs. $246)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCF students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/