Iowa State vs Toledo - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The cheaper tuition belongs to Toledo: $20,164 against $28,881, or $8,717 less a year.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Iowa State: $63K against $51K.
These admissions operate at different scales: Iowa State reads 23,095 applications a year, its rival 11,067.
How much of assessed need is met differs materially: 78% (Iowa State) against 61%.
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
Iowa State is the more selective of the two (88.66% vs 92% acceptance). Iowa State ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #601-700). Iowa State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($63K vs $51K). Toledo has lower sticker-price tuition ($20,164 vs $28,881 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 world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Toledo for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Iowa State is more selective (88.66% vs 92% acceptance); Iowa State has a higher median SAT (1250 vs 1235).
Iowa State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($63K vs $51K); Iowa State has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75.3% vs 57%).
Toledo has lower sticker-price tuition ($20,164 vs $28,881); Iowa State offers a larger average aid package ($15,665 vs $14,444).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #601-700 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 92% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 18.8% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1235 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | - |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 11,067 |
| International students | 3.7% | 8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $51K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $31K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $77K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 57% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 77.3% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $22,250 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $20,164 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $14,444 |
| % of need met | 78% | 61% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $23,487 |
| Application fee | $40 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 14,358 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Toledo?
It's harder to get into Iowa State. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Toledo accepts 92%.
Do Iowa State or Toledo graduates earn more?
Iowa State graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $63K vs $51K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Toledo?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $20,164 per year at Toledo.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Toledo?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1235 at Toledo; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Toledo?
Iowa State ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #601-700 for Toledo.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Toledo?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $14,444 at Toledo.
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