Iowa State vs Connecticut - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Connecticut: 52.4% against 88.7% (Iowa State).
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $44,004, or $15,123 less a year.
Ten years on, graduates of Connecticut earn noticeably more: $74K against $63K.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to Connecticut: 1340 against 1250, a gap of 90 points.
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
Connecticut is the more selective of the two (52.39% vs 88.66% acceptance). Connecticut ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #301-400). Connecticut graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($74K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $44,004 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 Connecticut for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Connecticut is more selective (52.39% vs 88.66% acceptance); Connecticut has a higher median SAT (1340 vs 1250).
Connecticut graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($74K vs $63K); Connecticut has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.3% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $44,004); Connecticut offers a larger average aid package ($21,535 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 52.39% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 15.4% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1340 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | - |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 55,479 |
| International students | 3.7% | 7.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $74K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $50K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $109K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 83.3% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 92% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $21,500 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $44,004 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $21,535 |
| % of need met | 78% | 61.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $28,506 |
| Application fee | $40 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 28,306 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Connecticut?
It's harder to get into Connecticut. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Connecticut accepts 52.39%.
Do Iowa State or Connecticut graduates earn more?
Connecticut graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $74K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Connecticut?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $44,004 per year at Connecticut.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Connecticut?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1340 at Connecticut; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Connecticut?
Connecticut ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #301-400 for Connecticut.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Connecticut?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $21,535 at Connecticut.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern