Iowa State University
AMES, IA
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Iowa State vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign - US university comparison

Iowa State University
IOWA STATE
Ames, IA
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance88.66%
Median SAT1250
Graduation rate75.3%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$63K
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Champaign, Illinois
World rank · ARWU#55
Acceptance42.37%
Median SAT1470
Graduation rate85.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$81K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Iowa State University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#501-600 World rank · ARWU #55
- Rank · THE #46
88.66% Acceptance rate 42.37%
1250 Median SAT 1470
75.3% Graduation rate 85.1%
30,432 Enrollment 59,238

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

88.66% Acceptance rate 42.37%
28.8% Yield rate 28.8%
1250 Median SAT 1470
3.75 Avg. GPA -
23,095 Number of applications 73,742
3.7% Int'l students 14.9%
$63K Median earnings · 10 yrs $81K
$44K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $55K
$90K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $117K
75.3% Graduation rate 85.1%
87.6% Retention rate 94.8%
$22,869 Median debt $19,500
$28,881 Tuition · year $38,400
$15,665 Avg. aid package $23,217
78% % of need met 0.8%
$29,475 Avg. graduate debt $22,395
$40 Application fee $50
$12,582 Avg. int'l aid $5,836
At a glance
Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads in 8 of 11 measured metrics
% of need78% vs 0.8%
Acceptance88.66% vs 42.37%
Aid$15,665 vs $23,217

The verdict, from the data

The lower acceptance rate belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 42.4% against 88.7% (Iowa State).

The larger international cohort belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14.9% of students against 3.7% (Iowa State).

The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $38,400, or $9,519 less a year.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $81K against $63K.

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

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the more selective of the two (42.37% vs 88.66% acceptance). Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #55). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $38,400 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign 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

Admissions

Illinois Urbana-Champaign is more selective (42.37% vs 88.66% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1250).

Graduate outcomes

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $63K); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.1% vs 75.3%).

Cost and aid

Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $38,400); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $15,665).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kIowa StateIllinois Urbana-Champaign TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Iowa State and Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Iowa State Illinois Urbana-Champaign
World rank · ARWU#501-600#55
Rank · THE-#46
Acceptance rate88.66%42.37%
Yield rate28.8%28.8%
Median SAT12501470
Avg. GPA3.75-
Number of applications23,09573,742
International students3.7%14.9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$63K$81K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$44K$55K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$90K$117K
Graduation rate75.3%85.1%
Retention rate87.6%94.8%
Median debt$22,869$19,500
Tuition · year$28,881$38,400
Avg. aid package$15,665$23,217
% of need met78%0.8%
Avg. graduate debt$29,475$22,395
Application fee$40$50
Enrollment30,43259,238

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

It's harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37%.

Do Iowa State or Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $63K.

How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Compare Iowa State with
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Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.