The University of Alabama (UA) vs Iowa State

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed universities: The University of Alabama and Iowa State University. Both institutions offer a wealth of opportunities, yet they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to uncover the nuances that set these universities apart. Discover the differences in acceptance rates, tuition fees, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Whether you thrive in a large, spirited community or prefer a smaller, close-knit environment, this side-by-side analysis will guide you towards the university that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

The University of Alabama logo

The University of Alabama

Overview

Location Ames, Iowa Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 88.0% 89.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.1% 78.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1083 - 1330 1070 - 1370
ACT range 21 - 28 21 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 13.0% 17.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0% 63.0%
Total number of applicants 20,357 42,421
Total number of admissions given out 18,550 33,472
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,387 7,593
Yield rate 29.0% 22.7%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,152

Out of state: $37,964
In state: $31,024

Out of state: $50,494
Average net price $15,422 $21,263
Tuition
In state: $8,324

Out of state: $24,136
In state: $10,780

Out of state: $30,250
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,590

Meal plan: $4,498
Room/dormitory: $5,900

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

87.0%
Average amount $8,833
76.0%
Average amount $16,363
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,202
37.0%
Average amount $5,221
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $11,630
9.0%
Average amount $23,617

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9%
31,685
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Graduate students 4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
6,631
Men 36.9% Women 63.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 62.2%
International students 8.2% 3.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 9,400 9,385
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Alabama Georgia Illinois Texas Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.0% 72.2%
Dropout rate 6.1% 7.7%
Transferred out 16.7% 18.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,739
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $101,292
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,956
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $95,081
Industrial Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,120
  • Year 2: $89,059
  • Year 3: $92,521
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,573
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $85,108
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,299
  • Year 2: $73,321
  • Year 3: $83,452
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,598
  • Year 2: $73,839
  • Year 3: $83,292
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,184
  • Year 2: $71,734
  • Year 3: $81,196
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,223
  • Year 2: $70,680
  • Year 3: $79,916
Construction Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,580
  • Year 2: $70,083
  • Year 3: $77,479
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,534
  • Year 2: $67,156
  • Year 3: $76,113
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,741
  • Year 2: $119,061
  • Year 3: $121,674
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,175
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $101,082
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,913
  • Year 2: $80,004
  • Year 3: $96,574
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,715
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $89,742
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,858
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,044
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,725
  • Year 2: $75,832
  • Year 3: $82,831
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,975
  • Year 2: $75,921
  • Year 3: $82,382
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,535
  • Year 2: $90,412
  • Year 3: $81,427
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,760
  • Year 2: $65,281
  • Year 3: $76,647
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,913
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $76,479