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ISU IU Purdue University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska UNI Wisconsin Illinois Miami Minnesota Michigan State South Dakota State University| University of Iowa | University of South Dakota | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Iowa | USD | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | Vermillion, SD | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 30,015 | 9,856 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #224 | #597 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | usd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | USD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,711 | $7,773 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,674 | $11,283 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,476 | $8,224 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,587 | $18,378 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,959 | $6,308 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 79% |
Admission |
Iowa | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,729 | 4,480 | ||
| Admitted | 22,128 | 4,456 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 99.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.4% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.43 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1340 | 1020/1300 | ||
| 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 | USD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | USD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $48,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $258 |
Diversity |
Iowa | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 12% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
Iowa | USD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | USD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Iowa is larger than than USD based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 9,856 students)
Iowa vs. USD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or USD?
- University of Iowa is 12.1% more expensive to attend than USD for in-state tuition ($8,711.00 vs. $7,773.00)
- Out of state tuition is 171.9% higher at Iowa than University of South Dakota ($30,674.00 vs. $11,283.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Dakota than Iowa ($18,378 vs. $19,587)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Dakota are 39.5% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($8,224 vs. $11,476)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than University of South Dakota (82% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 57.9% larger than aid received University of South Dakota ($9,959 vs. $6,308)
Iowa vs. USD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or USD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USD or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 115 points higher than at USD (1049)
- Incoming Iowa students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at USD (23)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at USD (3.43)
- USD has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Iowa (86%)
Iowa vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or USD? 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 USD and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than University of South Dakota (71% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $11,600 more per year than USD graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $48,200)
- University of Iowa students graduate with a $3,384 lower median federal student loan debt than USD graduates. ($21,616 vs. $25,000)
- Iowa graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than USD graduates. ($223 vs. $258)
- More Iowa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USD students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/