Elon University is the more selective of the two, admitting 63.3% of applicants versus 87.9% at Iowa State University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $24,064 per year at Elon University versus $15,463 at Iowa State University. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1190–1340 at Elon University and 1153–1360 at Iowa State University.
| Metric | Elon University | Iowa State University |
|---|---|---|
| Overall acceptance rate | 63.3% | 87.9% |
| SAT middle 50% | 1190–1340 | 1153–1360 |
| Avg unweighted GPA | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Yield rate | 11.3% | 28.5% |
| Class size | 1,333 | 6,160 |
| Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income | $24,064 | $15,463 |
| Net price, over $110,000 income | $49,743 | $22,496 |
Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2025–26 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.
Yes. Elon University admits 63.3% of applicants, compared with 87.9% at Iowa State University, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.
For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $24,064 per year at Elon University and $15,463 at Iowa State University, so Iowa State University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).
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