Iowa State vs University of North Dakota (UND)
Iowa State University and University of North Dakota, both public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Iowa State, located in Ames, Iowa, boasts a higher acceptance rate (84%) compared to UND's 80%. With a larger student body, Iowa State offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like engineering, agriculture, and business. UND, situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota, excels in fields such as aviation, education, and nursing. While Iowa State's student body is more diverse, UND has a higher graduation rate (68% vs. 66%). Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Iowa State University |
![]() University of North Dakota |
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Overview |
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Location | Ames, Iowa | Grand Forks, North Dakota |
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% | 77.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 91.1% | 89.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$35
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SAT range | 1083 - 1330 | 1110 - 1290 |
ACT range | 21 - 28 | 20 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | 6.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 63.0% | 59.0% |
Total number of applicants | 20,357 | 5,962 |
Total number of admissions given out | 18,550 | 5,308 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,387 | 1,755 |
Yield rate | 29.0% | 33.1% |
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:
$24,764
Out of state:
$29,205
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Average net price | $15,422 | $17,425 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,324
Out of state:
$24,136
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In state:
$8,882
Out of state:
$13,323
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,590
Meal plan:
$4,498
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Room/dormitory:
$4,770
Meal plan:
$5,152
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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 |
83.0%
Average amount $5,576 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
47.0%
Average amount $5,202 |
55.0%
Average amount $5,142 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $11,630 |
24.0%
Average amount $15,124 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9% |
9,718
Men 56.6% Women 43.4% |
Graduate students |
4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
4,054
Men 36.4% Women 63.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 60.5% |
International students | 8.2% | 6.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 9,400 | 4,588 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | North Dakota Minnesota California Wisconsin Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 76.0% | 61.8% |
Dropout rate | 6.1% | 9.4% |
Transferred out | 16.7% | 26.4% |
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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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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