University of Iowa or Indiana University?

I’m currently a Junior in Iowa. I’ve rounded my list to two universities, Iowa and Indiana. My top pick is currently Iowa. I want to study business and I’ve heard both schools have good business programs. From researching, I’ve heard that Indiana’s Kelley School of Business is one of the top business schools in the country. It is harder to get into though. Is Kelley that much better than Tippie(Iowa)? Iowa is much closer to home and tuition is significantly cheaper, so that is why Iowa is my favorite even though Kelley is better. Does anyone have any info on either of the universities business schools?

@Blin20 -My daughter is out of state for these schools and both are on her list. She has been accepted direct admit to Tippie, and we recently submitted the Indiana app and are waiting to hear. Based on admissions information for Kelley, we believe she will receive direct admit there as well. We have visited both schools this summer. Both have great college towns and pretty campuses. Indiana is a larger school. We did Kelley presentation, but a Tippie presentation wasn’t available during our visit to Iowa. She did like the campus in Indiana better, and the Kelley presentation impressed. My daughter would choose Kelley over Iowa. For us, the out of state tuition applies to both, and we expect similar merit dollars from both schools (we haven’t received any confirmation on that yet). From everything I have read and learned at the presentation, Kelley is a top notch program. They have a huge alumni network and large employers come to campus regularly for recruitment. We saw reps speaking with students and giving out freebies to students in the lobby of the building when we were there, and it was the second week of school. Kelley is in the company of business schools at universities that are more selective, and for my daughter’s chosen major, in the top ten nationally. The Kelley website is also very informative and gives great detail on what the course of study will look like for different majors in business.
Iowa has great traditions, and is in the Big Ten. Iowa’s campus felt more compact, though split by the river into two banks. I think Iowa would have longer, colder winters. The Tippie school seemed solid, but doesn’t seem to have the name recognition that Kelley has (does that really matter?) I suggested to my daughter she consider which school and campus she prefers as a whole in the event she has a change of course and doesn’t stay in the business school.

Have you visited both schools?

@blackbird881 I’m planning on visiting Iowa during the spring when I won’t be in sports. I could make a trip there between football and basketball season. My mom recommends I go when classes are in session so I get the full effect of what college is like. I think I’ll be a direct admit to Iowa but not so sure about Indiana. I’ve heard it’s pretty tough to be admitted into Kelley as a pre-business; pretty sure it’s much easier for Tippie.

Kelley>>>Tippie. For biz the rep matters quite a bit.

@Blin20 I would definitely agree that visits are ideally done when students are present. We didn’t have that opportunity at Iowa.
As far as admissions requirements for Kelley, you need two things: a 3.8 GPA, whatever one your school sends, weighted or unweighted, and a minimum 30 ACT composite (they superscore!) or 1390 SAT. thats what it takes. By next summer, you will have a pretty clear idea where you are for direct admit to Kelley, unless they change the standards. Work hard this year!

If my daughter gets into Indian/direct to Kelley, she will pick it over Tippie hands down. They really impressed us.
@barrons- was trying not to not be “Kelley-crazy” but I do agree.

@blackbird881 Thanks! I will see if I can earn a direct admit to Kelley. If I can’t but am able to direct admit into Tippie, I think I’ll just go to Iowa then!

@Blin20-good plan! Both are terrific. I personally loved University of Iowa and Iowa City. and you really can’t go wrong with in-state tuition. Also look at University of Minnesota and the Carlson school. Carlson school was also pretty impressive and a pretty good value for out of state tuition.