Iowa State vs Wyoming - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Ten years on, graduates of Iowa State earn noticeably more: $63K against $57K.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Iowa State: a midpoint of 1250 against 1140, a difference of 110 points.
More than twice the application volume goes to Iowa State (23,095 against 6,217), which changes how any single file is read.
Both universities have a small international community (at most 3.7% of students), which is worth weighing if that environment matters to you.
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 96.9% acceptance). Iowa State ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #701-800). Iowa State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($63K vs $57K). Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($25,015 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 Wyoming 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 96.9% acceptance); Iowa State has a higher median SAT (1250 vs 1140).
Iowa State graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($63K vs $57K); Iowa State has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75.3% vs 58.8%).
Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($25,015 vs $28,881); Iowa State offers a larger average aid package ($15,665 vs $12,129).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Iowa State | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #701-800 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 88.66% | 96.9% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 23.8% |
| Median SAT | 1250 | 1140 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.75 | 3.55 |
| Number of applications | 23,095 | 6,217 |
| International students | 3.7% | 1.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $57K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $37K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $81K |
| Graduation rate | 75.3% | 58.8% |
| Retention rate | 87.6% | 79% |
| Median debt | $22,869 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,881 | $25,015 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,665 | $12,129 |
| % of need met | 78% | 57.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,475 | $24,921 |
| Application fee | $40 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 30,432 | 10,813 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Iowa State or Wyoming?
It's harder to get into Iowa State. Iowa State accepts 88.66% of applicants, while Wyoming accepts 96.9%.
Do Iowa State or Wyoming graduates earn more?
Iowa State graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $63K vs $57K.
How much is tuition at Iowa State vs Wyoming?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,881 per year at Iowa State and $25,015 per year at Wyoming.
What SAT score do you need for Iowa State or Wyoming?
The median admitted SAT score is 1250 at Iowa State and 1140 at Wyoming; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Iowa State or Wyoming?
Iowa State ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Iowa State vs #701-800 for Wyoming.
Which university offers more financial aid - Iowa State or Wyoming?
The average aid package is $15,665 at Iowa State and $12,129 at Wyoming.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern