Iowa State vs Georgia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Georgia: 37.9% against 88.7% (Iowa State).
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Iowa State reports aid for international students ($12,582 on average), Georgia does not.
50 points separate the SAT profiles: 1300 (Georgia) against 1250.
Both universities have a small international community (at most 3.7% of students), which is worth weighing if that environment matters to you.
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
Georgia is the more selective of the two (37.92% vs 88.66% acceptance). Georgia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #401-500). Georgia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($69K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $31,678 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, a larger aid package.
Choose Georgia 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
Georgia is more selective (37.92% vs 88.66% acceptance); Georgia has a higher median SAT (1300 vs 1250).
Georgia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($69K vs $63K); Georgia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (89.7% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $31,678); Iowa State offers a larger average aid package ($15,665 vs $15,348).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 37.92% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 38.3% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1300 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 4.15 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 42,436 |
| International students | 3.7% | 1.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $69K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $45K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 89.7% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 94.3% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $31,678 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $15,348 |
| % of need met | 78% | 73.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $20,890 |
| Application fee | $40 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 43,146 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Georgia?
It's harder to get into Georgia. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Georgia accepts 37.92%.
Do Iowa State or Georgia graduates earn more?
Georgia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $69K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Georgia?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $31,678 per year at Georgia.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Georgia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1300 at Georgia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Georgia?
Georgia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #401-500 for Georgia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Georgia?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $15,348 at Georgia.
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