Iowa vs. St. Ambrose University

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

Iowa St. Ambrose University
Location Iowa City, IA Davenport, IA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 30,015 2,747
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #224 #402
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu sau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa St. Ambrose University
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $34,290
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $34,290
Room & Board $11,476 $11,988
Avg Net Price $19,587 $23,359
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $25,476
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 100%

Admission

Iowa St. Ambrose University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 3,589
Admitted 22,128 2,653
Acceptance Rate 86% 73.9%
Enrolled % 23.4% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.39
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 20/27
SAT Range 1130/1340 1020/1240
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 St. Ambrose University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Iowa St. Ambrose University
Graduation Rate 71% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $25,764
Median Loan Payment $223 $266

Diversity

Iowa St. Ambrose University
% Men 44% 42%
% Women 56% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 80%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 12% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Iowa St. Ambrose University
% In-State 54% 33%
% Out-of-State 45% 64%

Campus

Iowa St. Ambrose University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than St. Ambrose University based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 2,747 students)

Iowa vs. St. Ambrose University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or St. Ambrose University ?

  • Saint Ambrose University is 293.6% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($34,290.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.8% higher at St. Ambrose University than University of Iowa ($34,290.00 vs. $30,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than St. Ambrose University ($19,587 vs. $23,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 4.5% lower than costs at Saint Ambrose University ($11,476 vs. $11,988)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Ambrose University than University of Iowa (100% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Ambrose University students is 155.8% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($25,476 vs. $9,959)

Iowa vs. St. Ambrose University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 114 points higher than at St. Ambrose University (1050)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at St. Ambrose University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at St. Ambrose University (3.39)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than St. Ambrose University (73.9%)

Iowa vs. St. Ambrose University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or St. Ambrose University ? 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 St. Ambrose University and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Saint Ambrose University (71% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $11,500 more per year than St. Ambrose University graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $48,300)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $4,148 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Ambrose University graduates. ($21,616 vs. $25,764)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than St. Ambrose University graduates. ($223 vs. $266)
  • More St. Ambrose University 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/