UC Berkeley vs. Iowa State University (ISU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to UC Berkeley or ISU?“
UC Berkeley
Iowa State University (ISU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between UC Berkeley and Iowa State University (ISU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between UC Berkeley and Iowa State University (ISU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between UC Berkeley and Iowa State University (ISU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| UC Berkeley | Iowa State University (ISU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $13,431 | $7,736 |
| Net Price | $13,262 | $13,997 |
| Average Financial Aid | $10,677 | $6,723 |
| Total Undergraduates | 27496 | 29520 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1250 - 1510 | 960 - 1260 |
| Acceptance Rate | 17 | 87 |
| Location | 200 California Hall | 1750 Beardshear Hall |
| City Name | Berkeley | Ames |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, UC Berkeley is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Berkeley and Ames. UC Berkeley is in a Mountain and ISU is in a West North Central - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is UC Berkeley or Iowa State University (ISU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then UC Berkeley is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that UC Berkeley is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Iowa State University (ISU) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do UC Berkeley Dorms Compare to housing Options at ISU?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UC Berkeley charges for on-campus living, while ISU charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
UC Berkeley and ISU student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| UC Berkeley , % | ISU,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 26.889999999999997 | 75.76 |
| Hispanic | 14.09 | 4.67 |
| Black | 2.12 | 2.69 |
| Foreign | 13.71 | 6.63 |
| Others | 43.2 | 10.3 |
How different is the UC Berkeley campus compared to Iowa State University (ISU) campus?
The UC Berkeley campus is located in Berkeley, CA and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000). The ISU campus is located in Ames, IA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
UC Berkeley provides $10,677 whereas ISU provides an average of $6,723.
How does UC Berkeley academics compare to ISU?
When analyzing academics between UC Berkeley and Iowa State University (ISU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | UC Berkeley | ISU |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | 751 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 353 | 86 |
| Architecture and related services | 143 | 130 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 175 | 7 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 227 | 281 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 501 | 69 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 917 | 1404 |
| Education | N/A | 292 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | 58 |
Which is better: UC Berkeley or Iowa State University (ISU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UC Berkeley and ISU. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does UC Berkeley social life compare to ISU?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how UC Berkeley social life differs from ISU.
Check here.
Check here.