Washburn U vs Iowa State

Washburn University and Iowa State University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to prospective students. Washburn University, a private university located in Topeka, Kansas, boasts a smaller student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to Iowa State University, a public research university situated in Ames, Iowa. While both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs, Iowa State University excels in STEM fields, reflected in its higher graduation rates in these disciplines. Additionally, the student body demographics vary, with Iowa State University having a larger international student population. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting the key differences between these two esteemed universities. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

Washburn University logo

Washburn University

Overview

Location Ames, Iowa Topeka, Kansas
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
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% 66.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.1% Open Admission
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $40
SAT range 1083 - 1330 N/A
ACT range 21 - 28 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 13.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0%
Total number of applicants 20,357
Total number of admissions given out 18,550
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,387
Yield rate 29.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Not required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,152

Out of state: $37,964
In state: $23,895

Out of state: $34,899
Average net price $15,422 $14,617
Tuition
In state: $8,324

Out of state: $24,136
In state: $8,762

Out of state: $19,766
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,590

Meal plan: $4,498
Room/dormitory: $5,625

Meal plan: $4,090
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

87.0%
Average amount $8,833
94.0%
Average amount $6,254
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,202
44.0%
Average amount $5,166
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $11,630
5.0%
Average amount $10,179

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9%
4,828
Men 37.3% Women 62.7%
Graduate students 4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
829
Men 33.4% Women 66.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 3.0%
International students 8.2% 3.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 9,400 1,004
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Kansas Georgia Iowa Florida Arizona

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.0% 51.4%
Dropout rate 6.1% 24.7%
Transferred out 16.7% 20.7%
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 (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,212
  • Year 2: $99,069
  • Year 3: $105,785
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $50,713
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $59,264
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,996
  • Year 2: $52,542
  • Year 3: $57,844
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,332
  • Year 2: $54,812
  • Year 3: $57,071
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,896
  • Year 2: $44,595
  • Year 3: $54,443
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,833
  • Year 2: $50,270
  • Year 3: $53,824
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $43,016
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $53,722
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,602
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $53,311
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,645
  • Year 2: $46,790
  • Year 3: $50,604
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,551
  • Year 2: $45,128
  • Year 3: $50,230

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