NJIT vs Iowa State - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
NJIT admits 65.1% of applicants, while Iowa State admits 88.7%.
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: NJIT awards international students $28,025 on average, Iowa State awards $12,582.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $37,664, or $8,783 less a year.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to NJIT: $84K against $63K.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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
NJIT is the more selective of the two (65.08% vs 88.66% acceptance). Iowa State ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#701-800 vs #501-600). NJIT graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($84K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $37,664 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 NJIT for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, higher retention.
Choose Iowa State for: a higher world ranking, a higher graduation rate, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
NJIT is more selective (65.08% vs 88.66% acceptance); NJIT has a higher median SAT (1340 vs 1250).
NJIT graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($84K vs $63K); Iowa State has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75.3% vs 72.8%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $37,664); NJIT offers a larger average aid package ($18,661 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | NJIT | Iowa State |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #701-800 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 65.08% | 88.66% |
| Yield rate | 17.2% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1340 | 1250 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.73 | 3.75 |
| Number of applications | 15,607 | 23,095 |
| International students | 6.2% | 3.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $63K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $44K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $113K | $90K |
| Graduation rate | 72.8% | 75.3% |
| Retention rate | 90% | 87.6% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $22,869 |
| Tuition · year | $37,664 | $28,881 |
| Avg. aid package | $18,661 | $15,665 |
| % of need met | 56.8% | 78% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,459 | $29,475 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 13,247 | 30,432 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into NJIT or Iowa State?
It's harder to get into NJIT. NJIT accepts 65.08% of applicants, while Iowa State accepts 88.66%.
Do NJIT or Iowa State graduates earn more?
NJIT graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $84K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at NJIT vs Iowa State?
Sticker-price tuition is $37,664 per year at NJIT and $28,881 per year at Iowa State.
What SAT score do you need for NJIT or Iowa State?
The median admitted SAT score is 1340 at NJIT and 1250 at Iowa State; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - NJIT or Iowa State?
Iowa State ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #701-800 for NJIT vs #501-600 for Iowa State.
Which university offers more financial aid - NJIT or Iowa State?
The average aid package is $18,661 at NJIT and $15,665 at Iowa State.
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