Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
ISU Wisconsin Purdue ISU IU Michigan University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Georgia Tech UNI UT Austin UIC| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | University of Iowa | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
| Location | Champaign, IL | Iowa City, IA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 56,916 | 30,015 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #106 | #224 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinois.edu | uiowa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,474 | $8,711 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,446 | $30,674 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,720 | $11,476 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,544 | $19,587 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,552 | $9,959 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 54% | 82% |
Admission |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 63,257 | 25,729 | ||
| Admitted | 28,354 | 22,128 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 44.8% | 86% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.1% | 23.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.81 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/34 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1320/1510 | 1130/1340 | ||
| 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 | Jan 5, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 21:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $66,500 | $59,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $21,616 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $223 |
Diversity |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 54% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 46% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 16% | 12% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 4% |
Students |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Illinois | Iowa | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Iowa based on total student enrollment (56,916 students vs. 30,015 students)
Illinois vs. Iowa Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Iowa?
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is 43.2% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($12,474.00 vs. $8,711.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at Iowa than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($30,674.00 vs. $30,446.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Iowa ($14,544 vs. $19,587)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 10.8% lower than costs at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($11,476 vs. $12,720)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (82% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students is 66.2% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($16,552 vs. $9,959)
Illinois vs. Iowa Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Illinois or Iowa? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Iowa or Illinois .
- The average SAT score at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1305) is 141 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
- Incoming Illinois students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Iowa (26)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Illinois (3.79)
- Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Illinois (44.8%)
Illinois vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Illinois or Iowa? 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 Iowa and Illinois.
- The graduation rate at Illinois is higher than University of Iowa (82% vs. 71%)
- Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $6,700 more per year than Iowa graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $59,800)
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $1,116 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,616)
- Illinois graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($211 vs. $223)
- More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/