University of Iowa (UIowa) vs The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

Envision yourself as a student, embarking on a journey of higher education. As you navigate the vast landscape of universities, two prominent institutions emerge: The University of Iowa and The Pennsylvania State University. While both share a commitment to academic excellence, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to uncover the nuances that set these universities apart. Explore the contrasting acceptance rates, discover the spectrum of popular majors offered, immerse yourself in the diverse student body demographics, and evaluate the graduation rates that reflect each institution's dedication to student success. This side-by-side analysis empowers you to make an informed choice, aligning your aspirations with the university that best resonates with your academic pursuits and personal growth.
The Pennsylvania State University logo

The Pennsylvania State University

University of Iowa logo

University of Iowa

Overview

Location University Park, Pennsylvania Iowa City, Iowa
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 87.0% 88.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.3% 86.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1140 - 1360 1130 - 1350
ACT range 25 - 31 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 65.0%
Total number of applicants 96,686 22,434
Total number of admissions given out 89,207 19,340
Admitted students who chose to enroll 16,049 4,521
Yield rate 18.0% 23.4%
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: $38,270

Out of state: $55,848
In state: $24,686

Out of state: $46,649
Average net price $24,012 $17,599
Tuition
In state: $18,368

Out of state: $35,946
In state: $8,356

Out of state: $30,319
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,360

Meal plan: $5,618
$11,780
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

51.0%
Average amount $9,884
71.0%
Average amount $11,007
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,305
44.0%
Average amount $5,282
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $19,837
10.0%
Average amount $16,747

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3%
21,608
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
Graduate students 15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
8,301
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 34.1% 39.4%
International students 10.5% 5.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 20,547 6,660
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Virginia Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 73.7%
Dropout rate 25.7% 7.2%
Transferred out N/A 17.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,295
  • Year 2: $120,549
  • Year 3: $125,527
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,798
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $120,289
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,190
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $113,544
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $98,403
  • Year 3: $108,754
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,372
  • Year 2: $100,455
  • Year 3: $107,874
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,574
  • Year 2: $99,291
  • Year 3: $104,370
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,304
  • Year 2: $97,855
  • Year 3: $104,056
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,512
  • Year 2: $94,864
  • Year 3: $103,461
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $98,201
Nuclear Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $89,155
  • Year 3: $94,780
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,938
  • Year 2: $134,155
  • Year 3: $142,171
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,649
  • Year 2: $112,215
  • Year 3: $121,442
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,222
  • Year 2: $96,991
  • Year 3: $113,045
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,534
  • Year 2: $103,913
  • Year 3: $108,049
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,863
  • Year 2: $69,757
  • Year 3: $81,687
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,283
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $81,057
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,973
  • Year 2: $69,657
  • Year 3: $80,787
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,231
  • Year 2: $71,351
  • Year 3: $80,592
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,094
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $78,583
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,942
  • Year 2: $64,990
  • Year 3: $71,106

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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.
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