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ISU IU Miami Purdue University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska UNI Wisconsin Kentucky Ohio State Xavier UIC| University of Iowa | University of Cincinnati Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | UC | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Cincinnati, OH | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,042 | 43,338 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #225 | #431 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | uc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | UC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,016 | $11,892 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,979 | $28,904 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,616 | $13,048 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,121 | $21,511 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,512 | $8,195 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 68% |
Admission |
Iowa | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,682 | 33,165 | ||
| Admitted | 21,746 | 29,077 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.7% | 87.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 23.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1320 | 1150/1360 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Iowa | UC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | UC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $45,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $237 |
Diversity |
Iowa | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
Iowa | UC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 46% | 20% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | UC | ||
| 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 Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than Iowa based on total student enrollment (43,338 students vs. 30,042 students)
Iowa vs. UC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or UC?
- University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 31.9% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($11,892.00 vs. $9,016.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.2% higher at Iowa than University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($30,979.00 vs. $28,904.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than UC ($20,121 vs. $21,511)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 3.4% lower than costs at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($12,616 vs. $13,048)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (74% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 16.1% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($9,512 vs. $8,195)
Iowa vs. UC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or UC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 1 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
- Incoming Iowa students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at UC (26)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at UC (3.69)
- UC has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Iowa (84.7%)
Iowa vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or UC? 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 UC and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (71% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $14,200 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $45,600)
- University of Iowa students graduate with a $1,384 lower median federal student loan debt than UC graduates. ($21,616 vs. $23,000)
- Iowa graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than UC graduates. ($223 vs. $237)
- More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/