Iowa vs. Northland College

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

Iowa Northland College
Location Iowa City, IA Ashland, WI
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 30,042 485
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #225
Religious Affiliation - United Church of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu northland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa Northland College
Tuition (In State) $9,016 $40,910
Tuition (Out of State) $30,979 $40,910
Room & Board $12,616 $11,100
Avg Net Price $20,121 $24,020
Avg Grant Aid $9,512 $30,355
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 100%

Admission

Iowa Northland College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,682 894
Admitted 21,746 642
Acceptance Rate 84.7% 71.8%
Enrolled % 23.3% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 21/25
SAT Range 1130/1320 1096/1318
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 Northland College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (23%)
  • Biology (22%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

Iowa Northland College
Graduation Rate 71% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $34,900
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $26,943
Median Loan Payment $223 $278

Diversity

Iowa Northland College
% Men 12% 2%
% Women 14% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 83%
% Black 3% 1%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 12% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Iowa Northland College
% In-State 52% 39%
% Out-of-State 46% 50%

Campus

Iowa Northland College
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 Northland College based on total student enrollment (30,042 students vs. 485 students)

Iowa vs. Northland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Northland College?

  • Northland College is 353.7% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($40,910.00 vs. $9,016.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.1% higher at Northland College than University of Iowa ($40,910.00 vs. $30,979.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Northland College ($20,121 vs. $24,020)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northland College are 13.7% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($11,100 vs. $12,616)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northland College than University of Iowa (100% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northland College students is 219.1% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($30,355 vs. $9,512)

Iowa vs. Northland College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 46 points higher than at Northland College (1118)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Northland College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Northland College (3.3)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than Northland College (71.8%)

Iowa vs. Northland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or Northland College? 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 Northland College and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Northland College (71% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $24,900 more per year than Northland College graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $34,900)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $5,327 lower median federal student loan debt than Northland College graduates. ($21,616 vs. $26,943)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Northland College graduates. ($223 vs. $278)
  • More Northland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 70%)

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