Iowa vs. K-State

Should I go to University of Iowa or Kansas State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa or K-State 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.
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University of Iowa vs. Kansas State University comparison
University of Iowa Kansas State University College 3 College 4
University of Iowa Kansas State University
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Overview

 Iowa K-State
Location Iowa City, IA Manhattan, KS
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 30,042 19,745
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #225 #457
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu k-state.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa K-State
Tuition (In State) $9,016 $9,964
Tuition (Out of State) $30,979 $26,838
Room & Board $12,616 $12,020
Avg Net Price $20,121 $18,745
Avg Grant Aid $9,512 $9,391
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 90%

Admission

 Iowa K-State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,682 13,437
Admitted 21,746 10,663
Acceptance Rate 84.7% 79.4%
Enrolled % 23.3% 29.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 20/27
SAT Range 1130/1320 1040/1260
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 May 1, 2026

Academics

 Iowa K-State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

 Iowa K-State
Graduation Rate 71% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $49,700
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $223 $232

Diversity

 Iowa K-State
% Men 12% 9%
% Women 14% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 12% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 Iowa K-State
% In-State 52% 72%
% Out-of-State 46% 27%

Campus

 Iowa K-State
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 Iowa is larger than than K-State based on total student enrollment (30,042 students vs. 19,745 students)

Iowa vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or K-State?

  • Kansas State University is 10.5% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($9,964.00 vs. $9,016.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at Iowa than Kansas State University ($30,979.00 vs. $26,838.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kansas State University than Iowa ($18,745 vs. $20,121)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 5% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($12,020 vs. $12,616)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kansas State University than University of Iowa (90% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 1.3% larger than aid received Kansas State University ($9,512 vs. $9,391)

Iowa vs. K-State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or K-State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between K-State or Iowa .

  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at K-State (3.77)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than K-State (79.4%)

Iowa vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or K-State? 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 K-State and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Kansas State University (71% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $10,100 more per year than K-State graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $49,700)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $884 lower median federal student loan debt than K-State graduates. ($21,616 vs. $22,500)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than K-State graduates. ($223 vs. $232)
  • More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former K-State students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/