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# Schools Similar to Iowa State University

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/iowa-state-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/iowa-state-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/iowa-state-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/iowa-state-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/)Similar schools

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## Compare alternatives to Iowa State University

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 3 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 2 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 2 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 2 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | Iowa State University · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central College | 88.7% | 86.2% | $55,693 4 years after completion |
| [Trine University](/school/trine-university/) | 88.7% | 85.5% | $67,814 4 years after completion |
| [University of Wisconsin-Platteville](/school/university-of-wisconsin-platteville/) | 88.7% | 89.4% | $70,899 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | Iowa State University · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/) | 88.7% | 100.0% | $62,480 4 years after completion |
| Criswell College | 88.7% | 100.0% | $66,210 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Drake University](/school/drake-university/) | IA | $65,232 4 years after completion |
| Graceland University-Lamoni | IA | $63,607 4 years after completion |
| [University of Northern Iowa](/school/university-of-northern-iowa/) | IA | $54,830 4 years after completion |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/) | ND | $67,679 4 years after completion |
| [University of Wisconsin-Platteville](/school/university-of-wisconsin-platteville/) | WI | $70,899 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | Iowa State University · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cal Poly Maritime Academy](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/) | $68,277 4 years after completion | $108,757 4 years after completion | $20,555 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | $68,277 4 years after completion | $87,878 4 years after completion | $20,183 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | Iowa State University · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/) | $18,589 | $4,815 | $77,321 4 years after completion |
| [University of Michigan-Dearborn](/school/university-of-michigan-dearborn/) | $18,589 | $9,492 | $77,294 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Missouri-Columbia](/school/university-of-missouri-columbia/) | MO | $69,651 4 years after completion |
| [University of Iowa](/school/university-of-iowa/) | IA | $69,866 4 years after completion |
| [University of Kansas](/school/university-of-kansas/) | KS | $69,680 4 years after completion |
| [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/) | OH | $72,188 4 years after completion |
| [Ohio University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-university-main-campus/) | OH | $70,528 4 years after completion |
| [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/) | MN | $71,941 4 years after completion |
| [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/) | NE | $62,769 4 years after completion |
| [Illinois State University](/school/illinois-state-university/) | IL | $62,507 4 years after completion |
| [University of Illinois Chicago](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/) | IL | $72,839 4 years after completion |
| [Wayne State University](/school/wayne-state-university/) | MI | $68,551 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).