University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) vs Iowa State

Envision yourself as a student, standing at the crossroads of two esteemed universities: the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Iowa State University (ISU). While both institutions offer exceptional educational opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your academic journey. UAB, nestled in the vibrant city of Birmingham, Alabama, boasts a higher acceptance rate, allowing more students to embark on their academic pursuits. ISU, situated in the heartland of Ames, Iowa, stands out for its robust engineering and agricultural programs, attracting students with a passion for these fields. As you delve into the comparison table, you'll discover further insights into the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates of these two universities. This information will empower you to make an informed decision, selecting the institution that best aligns with your aspirations and goals.
Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

University of Alabama at Birmingham logo

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Overview

Location Ames, Iowa Birmingham, Alabama
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% 84.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.1% 88.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1083 - 1330 1173 - 1388
ACT range 21 - 28 23 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 13.0% 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 63.0% 65.0%
Total number of applicants 20,357 11,906
Total number of admissions given out 18,550 10,541
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,387 2,415
Yield rate 29.0% 22.9%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,152

Out of state: $37,964
In state: $27,630

Out of state: $39,462
Average net price $15,422 $16,990
Tuition
In state: $8,324

Out of state: $24,136
In state: $8,568

Out of state: $20,400
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,590

Meal plan: $4,498
Room/dormitory: $7,767

Meal plan: $4,540
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

87.0%
Average amount $8,833
93.0%
Average amount $10,940
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,202
46.0%
Average amount $5,208
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $11,630
5.0%
Average amount $14,247

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 25,808
Men 56.1% Women 43.9%
13,547
Men 37.9% Women 62.1%
Graduate students 4,900
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
8,742
Men 34.1% Women 65.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 16.8%
International students 8.2% 5.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 9,400 3,480
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 Tennessee Louisiana Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Engineering
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% 62.4%
Dropout rate 6.1% 16.5%
Transferred out 16.7% 17.9%
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
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $158,993
  • Year 2: $169,894
  • Year 3: $175,573
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,128
  • Year 2: $111,769
  • Year 3: $139,245
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,171
  • Year 2: $130,034
  • Year 3: $128,873
Systems Science and Theory (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,948
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $123,089
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,176
  • Year 2: $96,457
  • Year 3: $107,084
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,582
  • Year 2: $99,737
  • Year 3: $105,689
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,298
  • Year 2: $89,564
  • Year 3: $99,770
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,552
  • Year 2: $95,215
  • Year 3: $98,530
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,497
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $94,486
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,743
  • Year 2: $88,820
  • Year 3: $90,200

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