Iowa State vs Temple - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $40,144, or $11,263 less a year.
The SAT profile is practically identical (1250 against 1250), so a test score will not tip the balance either way.
Students admitted to both more often choose Iowa State (28.8% enrol, against 15%).
Neither is international in practice: the share of foreign students does not exceed 4.4%.
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
Temple is the more selective of the two (80.45% vs 88.66% acceptance). Temple ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #401-500). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($63K vs $64K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $40,144 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: a higher graduation rate, higher retention, lower tuition.
Choose Temple 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
Temple is more selective (80.45% vs 88.66% acceptance).
Temple graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($64K vs $63K); Iowa State has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75.3% vs 75%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $40,144); Temple offers a larger average aid package ($17,833 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Temple |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 80.45% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 15% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1250 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 3.42 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 40,817 |
| International students | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $64K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $41K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $92K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 75% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 83% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $24,395 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $40,144 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $17,833 |
| % of need met | 78% | 60.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $41,808 |
| Application fee | $40 | $55 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 29,637 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Temple?
It's harder to get into Temple. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Temple accepts 80.45%.
Do Iowa State or Temple graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $63K at Iowa State and $64K at Temple.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Temple?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $40,144 per year at Temple.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Temple?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1250 at Temple; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Temple?
Temple ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #401-500 for Temple.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Temple?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $17,833 at Temple.
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