Iowa vs. UO

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA with University of Oregon in Eugene, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Iowa is larger than UO based on total student enrollment (30,779 students vs. 24,404 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting); University of Oregon is in Eugene, OR (Midsize City setting).
• University of Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Oregon is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Iowa 16:1; University of Oregon 19:1.

Iowa vs. UO Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or UO? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than UO ($21,765 vs. $24,605).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 22.2% lower than at University of Oregon ($12,920 vs. $16,611).
• University of Oregon is 43% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa (about $4,854 more per year; $16,137.00 vs. $11,283.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.6% higher at UO than at University of Iowa (about $11,227 more per year; $44,598.00 vs. $33,371.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oregon than at University of Iowa (84% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 3.2% larger than aid received by University of Oregon students ($9,865 vs. $9,560).

Iowa vs. UO Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or UO? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UO and Iowa.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Oregon (1250) is 20 points higher than at Iowa (1230).
• Incoming UO students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Iowa).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 1130/1330; University of Oregon 1130/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 21/28; University of Oregon 23/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iowa - Test optional; UO - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Iowa May 1, 2027; UO Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at UO (3.73).
• UO has a higher acceptance rate (88.3%) than Iowa (83.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at Iowa vs. 14.4% at UO.

Iowa vs. UO Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa and UO? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Iowa's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Oregon's (66%).
• Graduates from University of Iowa earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than UO graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Oregon graduates have a $515 lower median loan debt than Iowa graduates ($21,101 vs. $21,616).
• Among borrowers, UO graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa graduates ($218 vs. $223).
• More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UO students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.