Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Iowa UCF Florida State UT Florida Michigan State Purdue Nebraska UIC Minnesota FGCU UNI| University of South Florida Main Campus | Iowa State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
| Location | Tampa, FL | Ames, IA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 49,600 | 29,969 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #423 | #352 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | usf.edu | iastate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,559 | $8,678 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,473 | $25,162 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,622 | $9,358 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,004 | $15,310 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,066 | $11,043 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 80% |
Admission |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 65,568 | 21,919 | ||
| Admitted | 28,801 | 19,776 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 43.9% | 90.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 29% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.64 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1330 | 1090/1350 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,500 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,147 | $23,868 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $197 | $246 |
Diversity |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 55% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 45% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 21% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 74% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 45% | ||
Campus |
USF Main Campus | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Florida Main Campus is larger than than ISU based on total student enrollment (49,600 students vs. 29,969 students)
USF Main Campus vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, USF Main Campus or ISU?
- Iowa State University is 90.3% more expensive to attend than USF Main Campus for in-state tuition ($8,678.00 vs. $4,559.00)
- Out of state tuition is 62.6% higher at ISU than University of South Florida Main Campus ($25,162.00 vs. $15,473.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Florida Main Campus than ISU ($11,004 vs. $15,310)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 34.9% lower than costs at University of South Florida Main Campus ($9,358 vs. $12,622)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Florida Main Campus than Iowa State University (87% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Florida Main Campus students is 0.2% larger than aid received Iowa State University ($11,066 vs. $11,043)
USF Main Campus vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, USF Main Campus or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or USF Main Campus .
- The average SAT score at University of South Florida Main Campus (1177) is 35 points higher than at ISU (1142)
- Incoming USF Main Campus students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (25)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at USF Main Campus (3.64)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (90.2%) than USF Main Campus (43.9%)
USF Main Campus vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, USF Main Campus or ISU? 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 ISU and USF Main Campus.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than University of South Florida Main Campus (68% vs. 52%)
- Graduates from Iowa State University earn on average $7,200 more per year than USF Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $46,500)
- University of South Florida Main Campus students graduate with a $4,721 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($19,147 vs. $23,868)
- USF Main Campus graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than ISU graduates. ($197 vs. $246)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USF Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/