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ISU Texas A&M IU Purdue Arkansas University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska UNI Wisconsin Oklahoma State University-Main Campus UT Dallas Illinois| University of Iowa | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | OU | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Norman, OK | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 30,042 | 29,145 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #225 | #223 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | ou.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | OU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,016 | $5,070 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,979 | $22,140 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,616 | $13,310 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,121 | $19,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,512 | $10,830 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 99% |
Admission |
Iowa | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,682 | 22,337 | ||
| Admitted | 21,746 | 17,097 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.7% | 76.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 30.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1320 | 1140/1330 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Iowa | OU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | OU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $59,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $206 |
Diversity |
Iowa | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Iowa | OU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 50% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 46% | 48% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | OU | ||
| 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 OU based on total student enrollment (30,042 students vs. 29,145 students)
Iowa vs. OU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or OU?
- University of Iowa is 77.8% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($9,016.00 vs. $5,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 39.9% higher at Iowa than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($30,979.00 vs. $22,140.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Iowa ($19,900 vs. $20,121)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 5.5% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($12,616 vs. $13,310)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than University of Iowa (99% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 13.9% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($10,830 vs. $9,512)
Iowa vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or OU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OU or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 40 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
- Incoming OU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Iowa (26)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at OU (3.66)
- Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than OU (76.5%)
Iowa vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or OU? 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 OU and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (71% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $500 more per year than OU graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $59,300)
- University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students graduate with a $1,616 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($20,000 vs. $21,616)
- OU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($206 vs. $223)
- More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/