University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) vs Iowa State

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed universities: the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and Iowa State University (ISU). While both institutions offer a wealth of opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. UWM, nestled in the vibrant city of Milwaukee, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on undergraduate education, reflected in its higher acceptance rate. ISU, situated in the heart of Ames, Iowa, excels in agricultural sciences and engineering, attracting students seeking specialized programs in these fields. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including popular majors, graduation rates, and student demographics, and make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee logo

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Overview

Location Ames, Iowa Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
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% 76.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.1% 89.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $56
SAT range 1083 - 1330 N/A
ACT range 21 - 28 18 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0% 82.0%
Total number of applicants 20,357 14,859
Total number of admissions given out 18,550 13,218
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,387 3,358
Yield rate 29.0% 25.4%
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: $24,614

Out of state: $36,479
Average net price $15,422 $17,083
Tuition
In state: $8,324

Out of state: $24,136
In state: $8,091

Out of state: $19,956
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,590

Meal plan: $4,498
Room/dormitory: $6,274

Meal plan: $4,189
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

87.0%
Average amount $8,833
89.0%
Average amount $4,401
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,202
43.0%
Average amount $4,970
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $11,630
7.0%
Average amount $10,933

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9%
19,411
Men 45.2% Women 54.8%
Graduate students 4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
4,418
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 10.7%
International students 8.2% 4.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 9,400 4,228
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Missouri Indiana

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Liberal Arts
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.0% 47.4%
Dropout rate 6.1% 48.0%
Transferred out 16.7% N/A
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 (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,506
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $93,377
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,454
  • Year 2: $78,343
  • Year 3: $86,207
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,770
  • Year 2: $67,812
  • Year 3: $72,895
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,590
  • Year 2: $72,727
  • Year 3: $72,400
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,200
  • Year 2: $65,267
  • Year 3: $71,939
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,477
  • Year 2: $66,247
  • Year 3: $71,536
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,137
  • Year 2: $67,995
  • Year 3: $71,158
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,809
  • Year 2: $64,196
  • Year 3: $69,426
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,103
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $68,280
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,159
  • Year 2: $60,851
  • Year 3: $65,279

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