Iowa State University (ISU) vs. California State University-Los Angeles Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to ISU or Cal State LA?“
Iowa State University (ISU)
California State University-Los Angeles
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Iowa State University (ISU) and California State University-Los Angeles. 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 Iowa State University (ISU) and California State University-Los Angeles
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Iowa State University (ISU) and California State University-Los Angeles. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Iowa State University (ISU) | California State University-Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $7,736 | $6,355 |
| Net Price | $13,997 | $3,227 |
| Average Financial Aid | $6,723 | $5,419 |
| Total Undergraduates | 29520 | 23424 |
| Average SAT Scores | 960 - 1260 | 780 - 990 |
| Acceptance Rate | 87 | 68 |
| Location | 1750 Beardshear Hall | 5151 State University Dr |
| City Name | Ames | Los Angeles |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, California State University-Los Angeles is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Ames and Los Angeles. ISU is in a West North Central and Cal State LA is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Iowa State University (ISU) or California State University-Los Angeles Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then California State University-Los Angeles 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 California State University-Los Angeles 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 ISU Dorms Compare to housing Options at Cal State LA?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. ISU charges for on-campus living, while Cal State LA charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
ISU and Cal State LA student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Iowa State University (ISU), % | Cal State LA,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 75.76 | 7.140000000000001 |
| Hispanic | 4.67 | 62.56 |
| Black | 2.69 | 4.2299999999999995 |
| Foreign | 6.63 | 5.81 |
| Others | 10.3 | 20.3 |
How different is the Iowa State University (ISU) campus compared to California State University-Los Angeles campus?
The ISU campus is located in Ames, IA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000). The Cal State LA campus is located in Los Angeles, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
ISU provides $6,723 whereas Cal State LA provides an average of $5,419.
How does ISU academics compare to Cal State LA?
When analyzing academics between Iowa State University (ISU) and California State University-Los Angeles 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 | ISU | Cal State LA |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | 751 | 13 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 86 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | 130 | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 7 | 26 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 281 | 350 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 69 | 142 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | 2 |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 1404 | 231 |
| Education | 292 | 254 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | 58 | 50 |
Which is better: Iowa State University (ISU) or California State University-Los Angeles?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between ISU and Cal State LA. 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 ISU social life compare to Cal State LA?
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 ISU social life differs from Cal State LA.
Check here.
Check here.