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ISU IU Purdue University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska UNI Wisconsin Illinois Miami Minnesota Michigan State Marquette University| University of Iowa | North Dakota State University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Fargo, ND | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,015 | 12,242 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #224 | #568 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | ndsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,711 | $9,309 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,674 | $13,963 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,476 | $9,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,587 | $15,962 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,959 | $5,732 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 77% |
Admission |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,729 | 8,535 | ||
| Admitted | 22,128 | 8,166 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 95.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.4% | 30.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1340 | 968/1216 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $53,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $23,300 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $240 |
Diversity |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 12% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 65% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | NDSU | ||
| 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 NDSU based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 12,242 students)
Iowa vs. NDSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or NDSU?
- North Dakota State University Main Campus is 6.9% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($9,309.00 vs. $8,711.00)
- Out of state tuition is 119.7% higher at Iowa than North Dakota State University Main Campus ($30,674.00 vs. $13,963.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Dakota State University Main Campus than Iowa ($15,962 vs. $19,587)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 23.4% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($9,300 vs. $11,476)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than North Dakota State University Main Campus (82% vs. 77%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 73.7% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($9,959 vs. $5,732)
Iowa vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or NDSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NDSU or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 73 points higher than at NDSU (1091)
- Incoming Iowa students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at NDSU (24)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at NDSU (3.53)
- NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Iowa (86%)
Iowa vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or NDSU? 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 NDSU and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than North Dakota State University Main Campus (71% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $6,200 more per year than NDSU graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $53,600)
- University of Iowa students graduate with a $1,684 lower median federal student loan debt than NDSU graduates. ($21,616 vs. $23,300)
- Iowa graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than NDSU graduates. ($223 vs. $240)
- More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/