Texas at Austin vs Iowa State - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Texas at Austin: 26.6% against 88.7% (Iowa State).
Average aid for an international student is $21,838 (Texas at Austin) and $12,582 (Iowa State).
The cheaper tuition belongs to Iowa State: $28,881 against $44,908, or $16,027 less a year.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Texas at Austin: $75K against $63K.
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
Texas at Austin is the more selective of the two (26.64% vs 88.66% acceptance). Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#45 vs #501-600). Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $63K). Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $44,908 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 Texas at Austin for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Iowa State for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Texas at Austin is more selective (26.64% vs 88.66% acceptance); Texas at Austin has a higher median SAT (1395 vs 1250).
Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $63K); Texas at Austin has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.9% vs 75.3%).
Iowa State has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,881 vs $44,908); Texas at Austin offers a larger average aid package ($20,219 vs $15,665).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Texas at Austin | Iowa State |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #45 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 26.64% | 88.66% |
| Yield rate | 47.4% | 28.8% |
| Median SAT | 1395 | 1250 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.75 |
| Number of applications | 72,885 | 23,095 |
| International students | 4.5% | 3.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $63K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $51K | $44K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $90K |
| Graduation rate | 88.9% | 75.3% |
| Retention rate | 96.7% | 87.6% |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $22,869 |
| Tuition · year | $44,908 | $28,881 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,219 | $15,665 |
| % of need met | 75% | 78% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $19,919 | $29,475 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 53,864 | 30,432 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas at Austin or Iowa State?
It's harder to get into Texas at Austin. Texas at Austin accepts 26.64% of applicants, while Iowa State accepts 88.66%.
Do Texas at Austin or Iowa State graduates earn more?
Texas at Austin graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $63K.
How much is tuition at Texas at Austin vs Iowa State?
Sticker-price tuition is $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin and $28,881 per year at Iowa State.
What SAT score do you need for Texas at Austin or Iowa State?
The median admitted SAT score is 1395 at Texas at Austin and 1250 at Iowa State; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas at Austin or Iowa State?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #45 for Texas at Austin vs #501-600 for Iowa State.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas at Austin or Iowa State?
The average aid package is $20,219 at Texas at Austin and $15,665 at Iowa State.
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