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ISU Wisconsin IU Purdue University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Michigan University of Minnesota-Duluth UNI Ohio State Illinois University of St Thomas| University of Iowa | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Minneapolis, MN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 30,042 | 54,890 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #225 | #150 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | umn.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,016 | $14,496 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,979 | $34,410 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,616 | $13,028 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,121 | $16,730 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,512 | $11,807 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 62% |
Admission |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,682 | 39,863 | ||
| Admitted | 21,746 | 30,705 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.7% | 77% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 21.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 27/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1320 | 1310/1480 | ||
| 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 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $58,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $20,185 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $208 |
Diversity |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 70% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 12% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 46% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | Minnesota | ||
| 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 Minnesota Twin Cities is larger than than Iowa based on total student enrollment (54,890 students vs. 30,042 students)
Iowa vs. Minnesota Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Minnesota?
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities is 60.8% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($14,496.00 vs. $9,016.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.1% higher at Minnesota than University of Iowa ($34,410.00 vs. $30,979.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than Iowa ($16,730 vs. $20,121)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 3.3% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Twin Cities ($12,616 vs. $13,028)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than University of Minnesota Twin Cities (74% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students is 24.1% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($11,807 vs. $9,512)
Iowa vs. Minnesota Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or Minnesota? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Minnesota or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1288) is 124 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
- Incoming Minnesota students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Iowa (26)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Minnesota (3.75)
- Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than Minnesota (77%)
Iowa vs. Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or Minnesota? 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 Minnesota and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than University of Minnesota Twin Cities (71% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $1,600 more per year than Minnesota graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $58,200)
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities students graduate with a $1,431 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($20,185 vs. $21,616)
- Minnesota graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($208 vs. $223)
- More Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/