Iowa State vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Iowa State accepts most of the applications it receives (88.7%), while North Carolina turns away the overwhelming majority (15.3%).
North Carolina reports no financial aid for international students, while Iowa State awards them $12,582 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $45,228, or $16,347 less a year.
Ten years on, graduates of North Carolina earn noticeably more: $72K against $63K.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 88.66% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #35). North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $45,228 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 North Carolina 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
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 88.66% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1250).
North Carolina graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($72K vs $63K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | - | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 66,535 |
| International students | 3.7% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 78% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $40 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Iowa State or North Carolina graduates earn more?
North Carolina graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $72K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $20,705 at North Carolina.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern