Iowa State vs Northwestern - 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 Northwestern turns away the overwhelming majority (7.7%).
The larger international cohort belongs to Northwestern: 11.8% of students against 3.7% (Iowa State).
Real money goes to international students at Northwestern ($74,103 on average), while Iowa State stops at $12,582.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $70,589, or $41,708 less a year.
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
Northwestern is the more selective of the two (7.69% vs 88.66% acceptance). Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #33). Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $70,589 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, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northwestern 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
Northwestern is more selective (7.69% vs 88.66% acceptance); Northwestern has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1250).
Northwestern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($89K vs $63K); Northwestern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.1% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $70,589); Northwestern offers a larger average aid package ($68,110 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | - |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 49,474 |
| International students | 3.7% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 98% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 78% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $40 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Northwestern. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Iowa State or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Northwestern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $89K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Northwestern?
Northwestern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $68,110 at Northwestern.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
North Carolina