Iowa State vs Binghamton - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Binghamton: 38.6% against 88.7% (Iowa State).
Ten years on, graduates of Binghamton earn noticeably more: $81K against $63K.
170 points separate the SAT profiles: 1420 (Binghamton) against 1250.
Students admitted to both more often choose Iowa State (28.8% enrol, against 15.9%).
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Binghamton is the more selective of the two (38.61% vs 88.66% acceptance). Binghamton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $30,447 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Iowa State for: lower tuition.
Choose Binghamton for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Binghamton is more selective (38.61% vs 88.66% acceptance); Binghamton has a higher median SAT (1420 vs 1250).
Binghamton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $63K); Binghamton has a higher 6-year graduation rate (81.6% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $30,447); Binghamton offers a larger average aid package ($19,288 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 38.61% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 15.9% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1420 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 53,007 |
| International students | 3.7% | 4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $81K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $53K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $114K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 81.6% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 89.5% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $30,447 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $19,288 |
| % of need met | 78% | 74% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $27,208 |
| Application fee | $40 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 18,815 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Binghamton?
It's harder to get into Binghamton. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Binghamton accepts 38.61%.
Do Iowa State or Binghamton graduates earn more?
Binghamton graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Binghamton?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $30,447 per year at Binghamton.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Binghamton?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1420 at Binghamton; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Binghamton?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $19,288 at Binghamton.
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