Northeastern vs Iowa State - 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 Northeastern turns away the overwhelming majority (5.2%).
The more international environment is at Northeastern (13.1% international students) than Iowa State (3.7%).
Average aid for an international student is $24,539 (Northeastern) and $12,582 (Iowa State).
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $69,289, or $40,408 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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 88.66% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #501-600). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $69,289 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 Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Iowa State for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 88.66% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1250).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $63K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Northeastern | Iowa State |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.2% | 88.66% |
| Yield rate | 53.8% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1490 | 1250 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.75 |
| Number of applications | 98,425 | 23,095 |
| International students | 13.1% | 3.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $63K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $44K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $135K | $90K |
| Graduation rate | 90.5% | 75.3% |
| Retention rate | 96.9% | 87.6% |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $22,869 |
| Tuition · year | $69,289 | $28,881 |
| Avg. aid package | $46,555 | $15,665 |
| % of need met | 86.7% | 78% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,461 | $29,475 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 39,774 | 30,432 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northeastern or Iowa State?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Northeastern accepts 5.2% of applicants, while Iowa State accepts 88.66%.
Do Northeastern or Iowa State graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Northeastern vs Iowa State?
Sticker-price tuition is $69,289 per year at Northeastern and $28,881 per year at Iowa State.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern or Iowa State?
The median admitted SAT score is 1490 at Northeastern and 1250 at Iowa State; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northeastern or Iowa State?
Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Northeastern vs #501-600 for Iowa State.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northeastern or Iowa State?
The average aid package is $46,555 at Northeastern and $15,665 at Iowa State.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern