Rutgers NB vs Iowa State
Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Iowa State University, both esteemed public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Rutgers, located in the vibrant city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, including highly ranked business, engineering, and life sciences departments. Iowa State, situated in the charming college town of Ames, Iowa, excels in agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine, attracting students seeking a strong foundation in these fields. While Rutgers has a lower acceptance rate and higher graduation rate, Iowa State offers a more affordable tuition and a larger undergraduate population. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Iowa State University |
![]() Rutgers University-New Brunswick |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Ames, Iowa | New Brunswick, New Jersey |
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% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 91.1% | 68.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
SAT range | 1083 - 1330 | 1240 - 1470 |
ACT range | 21 - 28 | 27 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | 45.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 63.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 20,357 | 43,161 |
Total number of admissions given out | 18,550 | 29,419 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 5,387 | 7,105 |
Yield rate | 29.0% | 24.2% |
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 |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$22,152
Out of state:
$37,964
|
In state:
$40,665
Out of state:
$57,866
|
Average net price | $15,422 | $11,803 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,324
Out of state:
$24,136
|
In state:
$12,536
Out of state:
$29,737
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,590
Meal plan:
$4,498
|
Room/dormitory:
$8,170
Meal plan:
$5,232
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
87.0%
Average amount $8,833 |
60.0%
Average amount $10,835 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
47.0%
Average amount $5,202 |
35.0%
Average amount $4,983 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $11,630 |
3.0%
Average amount $16,429 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9% |
36,152
Men 49.9% Women 50.1% |
Graduate students |
4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
14,652
Men 36.3% Women 63.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 6.7% |
International students | 8.2% | 10.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 9,400 | 16,088 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New Jersey New York Pennsylvania California Mississippi |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 76.0% | 83.7% |
Dropout rate | 6.1% | 6.8% |
Transferred out | 16.7% | 8.2% |
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)
|
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Biological and Physical Sciences (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.



























































































































































