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ISU IU Purdue Colorado State University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska UNI UW Wisconsin Illinois CU Boulder Miami| University of Iowa | Montana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | MSU | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Bozeman, MT | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 30,042 | 16,960 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #225 | #658 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | montana.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | MSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,016 | $6,056 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,979 | $29,047 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,616 | $13,446 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,121 | $18,511 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,512 | $9,967 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 85% |
Admission |
Iowa | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,682 | 21,975 | ||
| Admitted | 21,746 | 19,081 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.7% | 86.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1320 | 1060/1270 | ||
| 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 | MSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | MSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $45,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $248 |
Diversity |
Iowa | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 12% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Iowa | MSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 46% | 64% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | MSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Iowa is larger than than MSU based on total student enrollment (30,042 students vs. 16,960 students)
Iowa vs. MSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or MSU?
- University of Iowa is 48.9% more expensive to attend than MSU for in-state tuition ($9,016.00 vs. $6,056.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.7% higher at Iowa than Montana State University ($30,979.00 vs. $29,047.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montana State University than Iowa ($18,511 vs. $20,121)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 6.6% lower than costs at Montana State University ($12,616 vs. $13,446)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Montana State University than University of Iowa (85% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Montana State University students is 4.8% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($9,967 vs. $9,512)
Iowa vs. MSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or MSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MSU or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 33 points higher than at MSU (1131)
- Incoming Iowa students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MSU (25)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at MSU (3.5)
- MSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than Iowa (84.7%)
Iowa vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or MSU? 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 MSU and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Montana State University (71% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $14,000 more per year than MSU graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $45,800)
- University of Iowa students graduate with a $2,384 lower median federal student loan debt than MSU graduates. ($21,616 vs. $24,000)
- Iowa graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than MSU graduates. ($223 vs. $248)
- More MSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/