Iowa State University vs University of Iowa
Torn between these two? Here's how they stack up on what actually matters - what you'll pay, what graduates earn, and which one gives you the better return - all on U.S. Department of Education data.
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
ROI Score Comparison
The Financial Comparison
On the numbers, Iowa State University comes out ahead: 79/100 to 76/100, a 3-point edge over University of Iowa. That gap comes from real differences in what each one costs, what its graduates earn, and the debt they leave with.
Start with what you'd actually pay. After aid, Iowa State University runs $18,589 a year against $22,531 at University of Iowa - $3,942 more a year, or about $15,768 across four years.
Then look at what that buys. Ten years after enrollment, University of Iowa graduates earn a median $64,762 against $63,386 at Iowa State University. The cost earns itself back in 7.6 years at Iowa State University and 7.7 years at University of Iowa.
Finally, the debt you'd carry out. Graduates leave University of Iowa owing a median $22,500 versus $22,869 at Iowa State University. Their debt-to-earnings ratios are 0.52 and 0.47 - and the rule of thumb is to keep that under 1.0, meaning debt no bigger than a first year's pay.
Is Iowa State or the University of Iowa better?
On the overall numbers this is close to a coin flip: Iowa State scores 79 to Iowa's 76, and both graduate exactly 75% of students. The dependable difference is price. Iowa State is cheaper at every single family income level, averaging $18,589 a year after aid against $22,531 in Iowa City, and the gap is widest for lower-income families: $10,582 versus $15,316 a year in the $0 to $30,000 bracket. Across four years the average family saves about $15,768 by choosing Ames.
So the honest answer to "which is better" is: for an undecided major, Iowa State, on price alone. But the moment you know your field, the field picks the school, and it does not always pick the cheaper one.
Your major can flip this verdict
Iowa State's engineering catalog is both broader and better-paid. Computer engineering graduates report $105,753 in median earnings, computer science $104,211, construction engineering $100,676, and aerospace engineering $94,089, and several of those programs (computer science, construction, aerospace, agricultural engineering) have no earnings-reported equivalent at Iowa.
Business flips the other way. Iowa's accounting graduates report $92,767 against Iowa State's $70,706, a $22,061 annual gap, and finance runs $88,229 versus $75,360. Put that against the price difference and the math is stark: one year of the accounting earnings gap more than covers the entire four-year net-price savings of choosing Ames. Iowa also holds the fields Iowa State does not, with biomedical engineering at $86,894 and management sciences at $91,720.
In our view: engineering or computing, go to Ames and bank the lower price. Accounting or finance, the Iowa City premium pays for itself quickly. Everything else, take the cheaper offer.
Head-to-Head Numbers
| Metric | Iowa State University | University of Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| In-State Tuition | $10,787 | $11,283 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $28,881 | $33,371 |
| Net Price (avg) | $18,589 | $22,531 |
| Total 4-Year Cost | $74,356 | $90,124 |
| Outcomes | ||
| Median Earnings (6yr) | $44,000 | $47,700 |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $63,386 | $64,762 |
| Graduation Rate | 75.3% | 74.6% |
| Payback Period | 7.6 yr | 7.7 yr |
| Debt | ||
| Median Debt | $22,869 | $22,500 |
| Monthly Payment | $242 | $239 |
| Debt-to-Earnings | 0.52 | 0.47 |
| 3yr Repayment Rate | 84.5% | 79.4% |
| 5yr Repayment Rate | 78.7% | 76.4% |
| Admissions | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88.7% | 83.6% |
| Enrollment | 25,367 | 22,264 |
| SAT Range | 1120-1360 | 1130-1330 |
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual net price after grants and scholarships, by household income bracket.
| Family Income | Iowa State Universit... | University of Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $10,582 | $15,316 |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $11,506 | $15,489 |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $15,463 | $19,930 |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $19,605 | $23,811 |
| $110,001+ | $22,496 | $26,266 |
Earnings by Major - Head to Head
Median earnings for majors offered at both schools. Green highlights the higher figure.
| Major | Iowa State Universit... | University of Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | $72,581 | $123,676 |
| Computer Engineering | $105,753 | $79,228 |
| Electrical Engineering | $99,705 | $97,208 |
| Chemical Engineering | $92,773 | $97,329 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,914 | $95,347 |
| Accounting | $70,706 | $92,767 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,938 | $89,078 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $83,267 | $88,264 |
| Finance and Financial Management | $75,360 | $88,229 |
| Civil Engineering | $85,427 | $83,350 |
| Mathematics | $62,261 | $82,411 |
| Marketing | $66,482 | $81,994 |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,304 | $67,605 |
| Economics | $75,355 | $76,746 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $44,892 | $68,601 |
ROI Sub-Score Breakdown
| Component | Iowa State Universit... | University of Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Premium (30%) | 80 | 72 |
| Payback Period (25%) | 79 | 78 |
| Debt / Earnings (20%) | 69 | 78 |
| Completion Rate (15%) | 85 | 85 |
| Repayment Rate (10%) | 84 | 69 |
| Overall ROI Score | 79 | 76 |
The Verdict
It's close. Iowa State University edges out University of Iowa by 3 points (79 vs 76), but that's slim enough that your major and your own aid offers will decide this more than the ROI score does. Run your actual numbers in the calculator below before you call it.
Want to personalize these numbers?
The ROI calculator lets you plug in your financial aid, intended major, and living situation for a tailored comparison.
Iowa State University
Strong Value - Full profile and breakdown
University of Iowa
Strong Value - Full profile and breakdown
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, as of 2024-2025. Earnings are measured 6 and 10 years after enrollment. Net prices reflect average aid for first-time, full-time students.See full methodology.