Iowa vs. MLC

Should I go to University of Iowa or Martin Luther College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa or MLC 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. Martin Luther College comparison
University of Iowa Martin Luther College College 3 College 4
University of Iowa Martin Luther College
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Overview

 Iowa MLC
Location Iowa City, IA New Ulm, MN
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 30,015 880
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #224
Religious Affiliation - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu mlc-wels.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa MLC
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $17,420
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $17,420
Room & Board $11,476 $6,880
Avg Net Price $19,587 $22,293
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $6,301
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 99%

Admission

 Iowa MLC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 215
Admitted 22,128 180
Acceptance Rate 86% 83.7%
Enrolled % 23.4% 78.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 20/27
SAT Range 1130/1340 1051/1316
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, 2025

Academics

 Iowa MLC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (67%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)

Outcomes

 Iowa MLC
Graduation Rate 71% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $38,000
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $23,125
Median Loan Payment $223 $239

Diversity

 Iowa MLC
% Men 44% 47%
% Women 56% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 93%
% Black 3% 1%
% Hispanic 7% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 12% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Iowa MLC
% In-State 54% 20%
% Out-of-State 45% 78%

Campus

 Iowa MLC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than MLC based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 880 students)

Iowa vs. MLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or MLC?

  • Martin Luther College is 100% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($17,420.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76.1% higher at Iowa than Martin Luther College ($30,674.00 vs. $17,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than MLC ($19,587 vs. $22,293)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 66.8% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($6,880 vs. $11,476)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Martin Luther College than University of Iowa (99% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 58.1% larger than aid received Martin Luther College ($9,959 vs. $6,301)

Iowa vs. MLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 19 points higher than at MLC (1145)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MLC (25)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at MLC (3.56)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than MLC (83.7%)

Iowa vs. MLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or MLC? 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 MLC and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at MLC is higher than University of Iowa (73% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $21,800 more per year than MLC graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $38,000)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $1,509 lower median federal student loan debt than MLC graduates. ($21,616 vs. $23,125)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than MLC graduates. ($223 vs. $239)
  • More MLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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