Iowa vs. Wartburg College

Should I go to University of Iowa or Wartburg College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa or Wartburg College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Iowa vs. Wartburg College comparison
University of Iowa Wartburg College College 3 College 4
University of Iowa
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Overview

Iowa Wartburg College
Location Iowa City, IA Waverly, IA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 30,015 1,444
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #224 #654
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uiowa.edu wartburg.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa Wartburg College
Tuition (In State) $8,711 $46,740
Tuition (Out of State) $30,674 $46,740
Room & Board $11,476 $10,280
Avg Net Price $19,587 $23,683
Avg Grant Aid $9,959 $36,157
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 97%

Admission

Iowa Wartburg College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,729 2,779
Admitted 22,128 2,708
Acceptance Rate 86% 97.4%
Enrolled % 23.4% 13%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 19/25
SAT Range 1130/1340 970/1120
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 Wartburg College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Iowa Wartburg College
Graduation Rate 71% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,800 $48,100
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,616 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $223 $279

Diversity

Iowa Wartburg College
% Men 44% 49%
% Women 56% 51%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 77%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 12% 8%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Iowa Wartburg College
% In-State 54% 70%
% Out-of-State 45% 27%

Campus

Iowa Wartburg College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than Wartburg College based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 1,444 students)

Iowa vs. Wartburg College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Wartburg College?

  • Wartburg College is 436.6% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($46,740.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.4% higher at Wartburg College than University of Iowa ($46,740.00 vs. $30,674.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Wartburg College ($19,587 vs. $23,683)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wartburg College are 11.6% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($10,280 vs. $11,476)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wartburg College than University of Iowa (97% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 263.1% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($36,157 vs. $9,959)

Iowa vs. Wartburg College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or Wartburg College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wartburg College or Iowa .

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 59 points higher than at Wartburg College (1105)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Wartburg College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Wartburg College (3.48)
  • Wartburg College has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Iowa (86%)

Iowa vs. Wartburg College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa or Wartburg College? 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 Wartburg College and Iowa.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Wartburg College (71% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $11,700 more per year than Wartburg College graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $48,100)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $5,384 lower median federal student loan debt than Wartburg College graduates. ($21,616 vs. $27,000)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than Wartburg College graduates. ($223 vs. $279)
  • More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/