Oregon State vs Iowa State
Oregon State University and Iowa State University, both esteemed public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Oregon State, nestled in the picturesque Willamette Valley, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, while Iowa State, situated in the vibrant city of Ames, excels in agricultural sciences and engineering. With varying graduation rates and popular majors, these universities cater to different academic interests and career aspirations. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your unique goals and preferences.
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![]() Iowa State University |
![]() Oregon State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Ames, Iowa | Corvallis, Oregon |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 88.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 91.1% | 89.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1083 - 1330 | 1120 - 1370 |
ACT range | 21 - 28 | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 63.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 20,357 | 23,188 |
Total number of admissions given out | 18,550 | 20,687 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,387 | 3,965 |
Yield rate | 29.0% | 19.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$22,152
Out of state:
$37,964
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In state:
$29,393
Out of state:
$48,784
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Average net price | $15,422 | $20,318 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,324
Out of state:
$24,136
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In state:
$10,065
Out of state:
$29,456
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,590
Meal plan:
$4,498
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Room/dormitory:
$10,260
Meal plan:
$4,500
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $8,833 |
87.0%
Average amount $9,156 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
47.0%
Average amount $5,202 |
28.0%
Average amount $4,944 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $11,630 |
4.0%
Average amount $18,709 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9% |
27,564
Men 52.0% Women 48.0% |
Graduate students |
4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
5,629
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 35.8% |
International students | 8.2% | 7.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 9,400 | 5,055 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Oregon California Washington Hawaii Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 76.0% | 68.2% |
Dropout rate | 6.1% | 10.0% |
Transferred out | 16.7% | 18.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Manufacturing Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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